Altered states of consciousness have been explored for thousands of years, though they came into western medicine largely in the 1950's and 1960's with over 1,000 research publications and 40,000 research participants. This momentum was quickly stunted by a global prohibition, lead by the United Nations when they rescheduled psychedelics in the early 1970. The past decade, however has seen a re-emergence of research and investment in tandem with rising mental wellness issues, the oneliness epidemic, burnout, and treatment-resistant conditions.
There are over 200 registered psychedelic-related clinical trials globally, large international surveys suggest psychedelic use has increased significantly since 2015, with "personal growth" cited as a primary motivation alongside mental health support. Even Prince Harry and Harry Styles have publicly discussed their use of psychedelics. The gap between "drug" and medicine is closing and the "doors of perception" are opening, as famously noted by psychedelic pioneer Aldous Huxley
Health and wellness professionals are already supporting clients influenced by psychedelic experiences, whether disclosed or not. Even without direct involvement, basic literacy around these substances is essential for ethical, informed, and harm-reduction-oriented care.
A Brief, Evidence-Based Snapshot of Psychedelics Today
In clinical and research contexts, "psychedelics" typically refers to substances such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA. Ketamine is often discussed alongside them, though it is pharmacologically distinct as a dissociative. Use is widespread, investment building with over 50 psychedelic companies having gone public with a combined valuation of over $2.2 billion USD, and regulatory responses are evolving. Australia has taken the lead authorising medical use of psilocybin and MDMA under conditions, while research programmes continue at institutions across the UK, USA and Europe In the United States, several states have legalised or decriminalised psilocybin, with others actively considering ballot measures and the EU parliament and European Medicines Agency have working groups to support legislation for safe medical-use of psychedelics.
Across regions, one pattern is clear: use is increasing faster than education, creating an urgent need for informed, evidence-based guidance.
Why Psychedelic Literacy Matters — Even If You Never Work With Them
You do not need to endorse, recommend, or administer psychedelics to be impacted by them professionally. The global increase in use means more clients are arriving in coaching, therapeutic, and wellness spaces having had psychedelic experiences, some are supportive, some destabilising, and others are lackluster.
Studies suggest that a significant portion of users seek psychedelics for mental health support, emotional insight, or personal growth rather than recreation. However, preparation and integration, the support before and after the "journey" is often absent. Many individuals report being unprepared or with difficulty making sense of experiences and translating insights into sustainable behavioural change.
For professionals, this creates an ethical and care gap . Without basic literacy, including risks, contraindications, psychological effects, and harm-reduction principles, practitioners may inadvertently dismiss, over-pathologise, or overlook critical aspects of a client's experience. Add on our own personal judgements or lack of scientific rigor and we can do more harm. Psychedelic literacy does not mean advocacy; it means informed presence, appropriate referral, and an ability to hold conversations that are already happening in practice.
Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash
Risks, Responsibility & the Role of Harm Reduction
Media narratives often emphasise therapeutic potential, but psychedelics are not universally safe or appropriate. Adverse reactions, exacerbation of underlying conditions, unsafe settings, and unregulated substances all pose real risks. Emergency department presentations related to psychedelic use, while still relatively low compared to alcohol or opioids, have increased alongside use.
Harm reduction frameworks, widely used in public health, offer practical tools: screening, informed consent, dose awareness, preparation, integration, and clear boundaries. These principles are increasingly referenced in policy discussions and professional guidelines internationally.
Health and wellness professionals are uniquely positioned to support harm reduction by offering grounded education, emotional containment, and post-experience integration support, without crossing legal or ethical boundaries. As regulation evolves unevenly across countries, harm reduction remains one of the most immediately actionable and ethically defensible responses to growing use.
Looking Ahead: Education as the Missing Infrastructure
Despite rapid growth in research, investment, and public interest, education has not kept pace. While there are now hundreds of psychedelic-assisted therapy training programs globally, most are highly specialised, expensive, or restricted to licensed clinicians.
This leaves a wide gap for accessible, evidence-based education designed for broader professional audiences, including coaches, nurses, educators, body-based practitioners, and allied health professionals. Governments, insurers, and institutions are increasingly recognising that workforce readiness matters long before widespread legalisation.
As with mindfulness, trauma-informed care, or somatic practices before it, psychedelics are entering professional spaces whether systems are ready or not. Education, not hype, fear, or silence, will determine whether this emerging field supports public health or compounds existing gaps in care.
References (APA 7th Edition)
- Carhart-Harris, R. L., et al. (2018). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: Six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 399–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x
- ClinicalTrials.gov. (2024). Search results for psychedelic-related clinical studies. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://clinicaltrials.gov
- Costandi, M. (2014). Psychedelics in western medicine: From early clinical studies to policy and culture (historical overview). In 12.5 Psychedelics, Medicine & Research – Psychoactive Substances & Society (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychoactivedrugsandsociety/chapter/12-5-psychedelics-medicine-research/
- Lake, S., & Lucas, P. (2024). The global psychedelic survey: Consumer characteristics, patterns of use, and access in primarily Anglophone regions around the world. International Journal of Drug Policy, 130, 104507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104507
- Nutt, D., Erritzoe, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2020). Psychedelic psychiatry's brave new world. Cell, 181(1), 24–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.020
- Reiff, C. M., et al. (2020). Psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(5), 391–410. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010035
- Sessa, B. (2018). The 21st century psychedelic renaissance: Heroic steps forward on the back of an elephant. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 551–560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4713-7
- Tupper, K. W., et al. (2015). Harm reduction and psychedelics: A review of principles and practices. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29(12), 1252–1261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881114568034
About the Author: Anna Maria Farkas
