Public health education
Balanced messaging and reporting
Risk and harm reduction strategies
Responsible, evidence-based policy reform
"As scientists and clinicians, we have an ethical mandate to dispute claims not supported by available evidence. We encourage our colleagues to help deflate the psychedelic hype bubble in a measured way so that we can get on with the hard work of more precisely determining the risks and benefits of psychedelics.”
Our Motivation.
CPSE was born out of profound and personal tragedy — the loss of our children due to the hype around psychedelic substances and poor messaging about their risks. Every week we hear from people seeking help for a family member or friend who is having an adverse reaction to a psychedelic experience that is lasting days, weeks, and even months past the “trip.”
Our Focus.
CPSE works to inform public conversation and understanding about psychedelic substances, balancing the one-sided narrative and hype about their benefits with the evidence about risks, harms and safety issues.
As these substances become more normalized in our culture, people need a more nuanced understanding and information to decide if psychedelics are right for them, or right for them right now, based on personal intention, contraindications, the risks and how to mitigate them.
There is still much we just don’t know about these powerful, potent substances. That is fundamental for people to understand.
People Need to Know:
Psychedelics are not for everyone. There are serious contraindications, like family history of certain mental health disorders, that can trigger adverse events.
Psychedelics uniquely amplify one’s mindset and setting, which can contribute to unpredictable experiences ranging from euphoria to panic, even terror.
Psychedelics are powerful, potent substances. Risks can be mitigated, but not eliminated.
Because psychedelics can make a person uniquely suggestible, which in some cases has resulted in abuse or manipulation, it's important to find a sober sitter you can trust.