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Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online

Self-Treatment with Psychedelic Substances for Health and Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Exploratory Descriptive Study

A study exploring self-administration of psychedelics for mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand, highlighting motivations, benefits, and risks.

Matt Hallowes

• 2 min read
Self-Treatment with Psychedelic Substances for Health and Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Exploratory Descriptive Study

Title & Introduction

  • Paper Title: Self-Treatment with Psychedelic Substances for Health and Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Exploratory Descriptive Study
  • Published In: Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online
  • Publish date: March 6, 2025
  • Authors: Chris Arnison, Richard Egan, John H. Shaver
  • Objective: To explore the self-administration of psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in New Zealand, investigating motivations, perceived benefits, and potential risks.
  • Importance: As clinical research on psychedelics progresses, understanding real-world self-treatment practices can inform harm reduction strategies and future therapeutic applications.

Summary & Takeaways

Key Takeaway: Individuals in New Zealand are using psychedelics for self-treatment of mental health and wellbeing concerns, often in response to gaps in conventional healthcare access.

Practical Application: Policymakers and healthcare providers can use these findings to develop harm reduction strategies and consider integrating psychedelic-assisted therapies into formal treatment frameworks.

Key Background Information

  • Context: Mental health services in New Zealand are struggling to meet demand, leading some individuals to turn to alternative treatments such as psychedelics.
  • Hypothesis: People engaging in self-treatment with psychedelics perceive therapeutic benefits, including symptom relief and personal growth, despite the lack of clinical supervision.

Methodology

  • Study Design: Qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews.
  • Participants: 34 individuals in New Zealand who self-administered psychedelics for health or wellbeing purposes.
  • Intervention/Exposure: Various psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, LSD, and DMT.
  • Controls: No control group; focus on thematic analysis of lived experiences.
  • Duration: Cross-sectional study capturing retrospective experiences.

Key Findings

Primary Outcomes:

  • Participants reported improvements in mental health, including reduced anxiety and depression.
  • Many used psychedelics as a last resort after exhausting conventional treatment options.
  • Users developed personalized strategies to enhance benefits and minimize risks.

Secondary Outcomes:

  • Some participants experienced adverse effects, such as difficult psychological experiences and integration challenges.
  • Lack of medical oversight was identified as a potential risk factor.
  • Participants expressed interest in legal, supervised access to psychedelic therapy.

Interpretation & Implications

  • Conclusion: Self-treatment with psychedelics is a growing phenomenon in New Zealand, highlighting both potential therapeutic benefits and safety concerns.
  • Implications: These findings support the need for harm reduction measures, public education, and consideration of regulated psychedelic therapy options.
  • Limitations: Small sample size and reliance on self-reported data may limit generalizability.

Researchers & Publication