Contexts, Risks, and Affordances among Autistic Adults Using Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes: A Naturalistic, Mixed-Methods Study
Abstract
Background: Autistic adults are under-investigated in psychedelic research, despite speculated elevated likelihood of substance use for therapeutic and recreational purposes.
Aims: This study explored contexts of naturalistic psychedelic use and wellbeing and mental health indicators in a group of Autistic adults using psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, and compared these with the broader population of naturalistic psychedelic users.
Methods: Secondary analysis of Global Psychedelic Survey 2023 data (N = 6,378) was undertaken with a sub-sample of naturalistic psychedelic users who self-indicated being Autistic adults who used psychedelics therapeutically. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design investigated quantitative between-group differences in contexts of naturalistic psychedelic use and mental health indicators, and explored qualitative implications for wellbeing in the Autistic sub-sample.
Results: Compared with other psychedelic users (n = 6,166), the Autistic sub-sample (n = 212) reported higher rates of lifetime use of less common psychedelic substances and use in structured therapeutic settings, lower perceived psychedelic knowledge and experience, and greater prevalence of persisting hallucinations (65.09%) and clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (57.35%) and depression (60.66%) at the time of survey completion. Concurrently, three qualitative themes described largely beneficial, yet context-dependent implications for wellbeing within the Autistic sub-sample: Shifting Perspectives, Therapeutic Utility, and Conditional Affordances.
Conclusions: Integrated mixed-methods findings highlighted that wellbeing-related affordances of psychedelic use in the Autistic sub-sample were sometimes contingent on context and support, and adverse mental health indicators could co-exist with personal growth. Future research should further evaluate quality-of-life and adverse outcomes from psychedelic use in Autistic populations.
Related
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BibTeX
@misc{sam2026contexts,
title = {{Contexts, Risks, and Affordances among Autistic Adults Using Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes: A Naturalistic, Mixed-Methods Study}},
author = {Alvita Sam and Alexander De Foe and Aspasia Stacey Rabba and Paul Liknaitzky and Kyle Greenway and Stephanie L. Lake and Philippe Lucas},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/d3x8r_v2},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/d3x8r_v2/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Contexts, Risks, and Affordances among Autistic Adults Using Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes: A Naturalistic, Mixed-Methods Study
AU - Alvita Sam
AU - Alexander De Foe
AU - Aspasia Stacey Rabba
AU - Paul Liknaitzky
AU - Kyle Greenway
AU - Stephanie L. Lake
AU - Philippe Lucas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/d3x8r_v2
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/d3x8r_v2/
AB - Background: Autistic adults are under-investigated in psychedelic research, despite speculated elevated likelihood of substance use for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Aims: This study explored contexts of naturalistic psychedelic use and wellbeing and mental health indicators in a group of Autistic adults using psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, and compared these with the broader population of naturalistic psychedelic users. Methods: Secondary analysis of Global Psychedelic Survey 2023 data (N = 6,378) was undertaken with a sub-sample of naturalistic psychedelic users who self-indicated being Autistic adults who used psychedelics therapeutically. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design investigated quantitative between-group differences in contexts of naturalistic psychedelic use and mental health indicators, and explored qualitative implications for wellbeing in the Autistic sub-sample. Results: Compared with other psychedelic users (n = 6,166), the Autistic sub-sample (n = 212) reported higher rates of lifetime use of less common psychedelic substances and use in structured therapeutic settings, lower perceived psychedelic knowledge and experience, and greater prevalence of persisting hallucinations (65.09%) and clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (57.35%) and depression (60.66%) at the time of survey completion. Concurrently, three qualitative themes described largely beneficial, yet context-dependent implications for wellbeing within the Autistic sub-sample: Shifting Perspectives, Therapeutic Utility, and Conditional Affordances. Conclusions: Integrated mixed-methods findings highlighted that wellbeing-related affordances of psychedelic use in the Autistic sub-sample were sometimes contingent on context and support, and adverse mental health indicators could co-exist with personal growth. Future research should further evaluate quality-of-life and adverse outcomes from psychedelic use in Autistic populations.
ER -