Study suggests psychedelic users reframe “bad trips” into positive experiences through detailed narratives

A study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy asked psychedelic drug users to share their experiences with drug use, and particularly, their experiences with “bad trips.” An analysis of these narratives revealed that many psychedelic users turn to storytelling to reframe challenging trips into positive experiences.

Psychedelics or hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that trigger altered states of consciousness, affecting mood, perception, and cognition. While hallucinogens are considered non-addictive and have low toxicity, they do come with a major pitfall. The drugs occasionally induce bad trips — intense negative reactions that can include anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and frightening hallucinations.

Interestingly, many users of psychedelics seem to embrace the positives in these challenging trips, despite describing them as intensely frightening. Researchers Liridona Gashi and her team proposed that one way psychedelic users might find meaning in such bad trips is through storytelling. Narratives might allow drug users to reframe these adverse incidents into valuable experiences — the same way that humans commonly make sense of the world by telling stories.
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