Classic psychedelics may produce lasting positive effects on mood, cognition, and personality, but how these effects vary by age is unclear. Emerging adulthood (ages 18-29) is a critical developmental period marked by transition to independence and common psychedelic experimentation. This integrative review proposes a framework for how psychedelic use could positively influence development during this stage, including changes in personality trait openness, belief systems, self-insight, and social concern. The authors outline pathways for orthogenetic, veridical-epistemic, eudaimonic, relational, and ethical developmental trajectories. They also identify future research directions and key challenges for studying psychedelics' developmental impact in emerging adulthood.
Men who used classic psychedelics during emerging adulthood (ages 18–29) and later reflected on those experiences reported six categories of positive developmental impact: increased psychological reflection and insight, life changes, recovery from mental health problems and addictions, improved relationships with others, greater existential awareness, and increased wellbeing and connection with emotions. The findings suggest that for some men, psychedelic experiences are interpreted as important life events that intersect with identity development, responsibility, and engagement with developmentally salient tasks. The study highlights the value of developmental perspectives in psychedelic research and points to the need for longitudinal research.