This year, millions of people will use psychedelics outside of supervised medical contexts, many of them for the first time. Many psychedelic users are unprepared to tend to a psychedelic-induced difficult experience if one were to arise. It is not uncommon for psychedelic users to have difficult psychedelic experiences and it’s most likely to happen with first-time users, especially with high doses and without adequate preparation or guidance. Society has termed these experiences “bad trips.”
Many individuals are arrested or hospitalized for psychedelic-induced difficult psychological experiences, sometimes at detriment to the individual. Additionally, some psychedelics can case serious medical problems, especially at higher doses when adulterated. It’s important to understand the medical and psychological risks involved with taking psychedelics, and to know when to seek help.