Why Are Some People More Likely to See Faces Everywhere While Tripping?

Because of the influence of ‘set and setting’, not everyone’s psychedelic experience is the same. Various aspects of ‘set’ (e.g. beliefs, expectations, mood, personality, intention, level of restfulness) and ‘setting’ (e.g. culture, environment, music, people present) interact with the drug and the dose to produce a particular kind of experience. This includes the visual qualities…

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Why Do Some People Develop HPPD and Not Others?

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is a rare condition that can develop after psychedelic use. HPPD involves persisting visual changes that cause emotional distress and/or impairment to functioning. It is not clear precisely how prevalent the condition is, although its prevalence is considered low. In one study, 4.2% of participants said they experienced continued visual…

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The Role of Memory Recall in Psychedelic Integration

‘Psychedelic integration’ is a somewhat nebulous concept. It is often broadly defined as incorporating what one experienced and learned on psychedelics into everyday life. But this loose definition raises many questions, such as how and why certain aspects of the psychedelic experience are integrated. In other words, what techniques effectively aid such integration, and what…

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Nitrous Oxide: A Gas With Mystical, Antidepressant, and Addictive Potential

Nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) is a colourless gas with sedative, analgesic, euphoric, dissociative, and (if the dose is right) mystical effects. When used recreationally, the gas comes in canisters, known as ‘nangs’ in Australia and New Zealand, with other street names for the gas including ‘whippets’ (or ‘whippits’) and ‘hippy crack’. There is both a…

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Addressing Ibogaine’s Heart Risks

Ibogaine is a tryptamine psychedelic found in Tabernanthe iboga, a shrub native to Central West Africa. Some of the indigenous peoples of Gabon, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republic of Congo use the root or bark of this plant (as these contain the highest concentrations of ibogaine) as part of Bwiti spiritual…

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