What is it about?
This qualitative study identifies four key domains influencing contemporary U.S. adult psychedelic use: context (norms and stigma), expectancies (risks/benefits), motives (i.e., exploration, health), and practices like microdosing and intentional use (i.e., rituals).
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Why is it important?
These qualitative findings build upon previous motivational models of substance use and reflect a crucial step in furthering our knowledge around the growing zeitgeist of contemporary psychedelic use in the United States, including the role of motives, expectancies, and context.
Perspectives
This study reflects the culmination of several years of careful thought and exploration regarding a growing trend we had been observing of cannabis and psychedelic use among a cohort of emerging adults that had been recruited based on their cannabis use. We were intrigued by the role that psychedelic may have been playing more naturalistically for these individuals. We are excited to be following up this study with an in-depth look into how psychedelic use motives changes over time as young adults develop and transition into new roles and have different cognitive and emotions needs.
Bridgid Conn
University of Southern California
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A contemporary exploration of motivations and practices of psychedelic use among emerging adult cannabis users in the United States: A qualitative analysis., Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, August 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/adb0001180.
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