Editorial: Psychedelic sociality: Pharmacological and extrapharmacological perspectives

As psychedelic treatments become more mainstream and medicalized, there is a growing focus on their pharmacological and psychological effects on the individual, at the expense of their social and cultural dimensions. Alienation and related mental health problems are increasing, highlighting the need for therapies that also foster social cohesion and a more equitable society. Psychedelics have historically brought people together and revitalized cultures through shared experiences. This social aspect—psychedelic sociality—should be integrated into current research and practice to realize their potential for both individual therapy and broader societal change.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The heralded psychedelic renaissance is currently at a new level where psychedelics are being accepted by the scientific community and the public. Medicalization and the ongoing introduction of market forces are imposing a trend in which psychedelic treatments are reduced to focus into strictly pharmacological and psychological effects on the self, rather than interactions with broader social context. Such narrowing of how psychedelic treatments are being conceived, used, and researched is a source of concern for those who understand that psychedelics' therapeutic effects as also derived from socially and culturally meaningful elements. Alienation-the sense of isolation from others-and the mental health problems associated with it are on the rise. Consequently, there is not only a need for new therapies but also for a renewed social adhesion and a commitment to a more just and equal society. Psychedelics have a long history of bringing people together, facilitating intense shared experiences, and revitalizing cultures. This social dimension of use of psychedelics-psychedelic sociality-should be considered in the current mainstreaming, as therein lies their potential to support change in individual therapy and beyond.