Scientists Want to Talk to People Who've Had Life Changing Psychedelic Experiences

Psychedelics have come a long way. LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT were a staple of the 1960s counter-culture. Hippie leaders such as Timothy Leary claimed that psychedelics were a powerful tool for literally changing minds, but the culture pushed back against the hippies and, for decades, serious research into the chemicals stalled. That’s changed.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are among the many serious scientists looking into the positive clinical and psychological effects of psychedelic experiences. The group previously wanted to talk to people who’d encountered extra dimensional entities on DMT. Now, they want to hear from people who’ve had life changing experiences on any hallucinogenic drug.

It’s part of the groups research into a phenomenon known as quantum change. “Quantum change is a theory that states that psychological insight or mystical experiences can bring about powerful changes in mood, behavior, thoughts etc,” Alan Davis, a co-researcher on the project told me via email. “When psychological insight and mystical experiences occur together they might produce even more profound changes. The importance of this quantum change model is incredible as it will expand our current framework of psychedelic therapy models and help provide evidence that mystical and insightful experiences that are brought about by psychedelics might explain why they are so powerfully associated with positive behavioral, emotional, and cognitive change.”

This study is just part of a larger trend in the medical community around psychedelics in recent years. Researchers in California recently had so much success using MDMA (ecstasy) to treat combat veterans with PTSD that they’re pushing the FDA to rush the drug through the approval process. Popular author Michael Pollan’s new book— How to Change Your Mind—is all about the positive power of psychedelics.

We’re experiencing a sea-change in America about the way we think about psychedelics. If you’ve ever had a profound experience on LSD, magic mushrooms, ecstasy, DMT, or any of the others, go here to anonymously tell John Hopkins all about it.