A psychedelics online experience is often described as a spiritual journey that can lead to healing and personal growth. It is also said to rewire the brain and help users face their fears and pain. It can be used to help deal with addictions, depression and anxiety. It can even ease symptoms of diseases such as cancer. These claims are supported by a growing body of research. However, psychedelic drugs are still illegal in many countries and can cause serious side effects if they are misused or taken incorrectly. The internet provides potential hallucinogen users with easy access to advice and information. We analyzed online forums to identify discourses that characterize users’ perceptions and experiences of psychedelics. Five dominant discourses were identified: the recreational, therapeutic, spiritual and scientific.
The recreational discourse is characterized by a great variation in norms and ideologies. It includes posts that describe pleasurable activities to engage in while under the influence of psychedelics such as watching movies, playing games, having sex or talking.
The therapeutic discourse is prevalent in threads that discuss the use of LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. It emphasizes the importance of a proper context (setting) and stresses that following specific guidelines is essential to ensuring a safe and beneficial experience.
