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Emory Study Seeks Adults Facing Post-Trip Challenges Now
- Bud Lords
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Psychedelic experiences can lift people up—or leave lingering challenges that don’t fade when the drug wears off. An international research team led by Dr. Roman Palitsky, a faculty member at Emory University, has launched the Post-Psychedelic Challenges Study (P-Psych) to understand those after-effects and what helps people recover.
The project brings together researchers from Brown University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of North Texas. It aims to define the “clinical footprint” of post-psychedelic difficulties and build better ways to support people on the other side of a hard trip.
This story is based on reporting by Lucid News. Read the original article for full details: Have You Had Difficulties After a Trip?.
Why This Study Matters
While “bad trips” are widely discussed, the field knows far less about difficulties that persist after the acute effects end. According to the Lucid News report, a mixed-methods study of 608 people found problems persisted over a year for roughly a third, and over three years for a sixth.
Survey data summarized by Lucid News also suggest that among U.S. adults who used classic psychedelics, about 9% reported difficulties that impaired functioning for longer than a day, 3.4% had distressing effects lasting more than a month, and 2.6% sought professional help afterward. A newer survey put post-acute difficulties at 6.4%, with 1.3% lasting more than a year.
Set against the roughly 31 million American adults—about 12%—who have taken psilocybin at least once, Lucid News notes that the 2.6% figure translates to on the order of 800,000 people who have needed professional support after a trip. The researchers argue this is a serious psychiatric, spiritual, and ethical concern that deserves focused study.
Who Can Participate—and What Counts as a “Psychedelic”
The team is recruiting 800 adults based in the United States, Canada, or Australia who have ever experienced difficulties after the acute psychedelic effects wore off. As of the Lucid News report, the study is nearly 25% enrolled and already represents the largest dataset of its kind.
Included compounds are classic psychedelics (psilocybin/mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca/DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, or peyote/San Pedro/mescaline), as well as MDMA and ketamine. The researchers specifically note that cannabis-related experiences do not fall under the scope of this study due to cannabis’s unique effects.
What Participation Looks Like
Participation begins with a live conversation after you express interest, giving both sides a chance to connect. Eligible participants then complete a comprehensive survey covering psychedelic history, the precipitating experience, the full range of challenges, and whether difficulties are ongoing.
For those whose challenges began within the past year and are still ongoing, a one-year follow-up tracks changes every two months. Some participants may also be invited to share weekly updates through a voice-diary app called Fabla, offering real-world snapshots of mood and functioning.
A small subset will be invited for an in-depth interview to capture nuances that surveys may miss. According to Lucid News, participation in all parts of the study is compensated.
Timeline and Next Steps
P-Psych launched in summer 2025 and is actively enrolling adults in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The longitudinal arm plans to follow 400 people who are currently experiencing post-psychedelic difficulties for one year, with check-ins every two months.
If you think you may be eligible, start by reading the original Lucid News report for details and how to connect with the team: Lucid News: Have You Had Difficulties After a Trip?. Be prepared to share when your difficulties began, what you experienced, and anything that has helped so far.
What This Means for DC, Maryland and Virginia Residents
DMV readers who have struggled after a psychedelic experience can contribute valuable lived experience to a study designed to improve clinical language, triage, and supports. Because the study is open to adults based anywhere in the United States, District, Maryland, and Virginia residents are fully within scope.
If you’re a Maryland cannabis patient, a Virginia consumer, or a DC resident curious about integration, note that cannabis experiences fall outside this study’s scope. However, your input on classic psychedelics, MDMA, or ketamine could inform future guidance that clinicians and peer-support communities in our region use.
This research does not hinge on local policy. Whether you follow Maryland marijuana laws or Virginia policy debates, participation is about describing real-world after-effects and what aided recovery, not the legal status of substances.
How This Compares to Other States
Unlike clinic-bound projects that may recruit in a single metro, P-Psych welcomes adults across the United States, as well as Canada and Australia. That means Maryland and Virginia participants are just as relevant to the dataset as those in larger research hubs.
Importantly, the study targets real-world experiences “in the wild,” not only controlled clinical sessions. By comparing patterns of difficulties and what helps across diverse settings, the team aims to identify supports that generalize across regions and contexts.
What the Researchers Are Trying to Learn
As summarized by Lucid News, the team wants to map symptoms and syndromes in clinical language, understand how long they tend to last, and learn what contributes to improvement. They are also examining which difficulties cluster together and what practices or supports help people move forward.
The project builds on work like Dr. Willoughby Britton’s Varieties of Contemplative Experience, which cataloged meditation-related challenges. The Emory group is similarly taking a balanced, ethics-forward approach that acknowledges both benefits and risks.
Expert perspective
Paraphrasing the study team’s stance reported by Lucid News: normalizing psychedelics requires honesty about upsides and downsides. When advocates paper over the hard stories, public trust suffers. The goal here is not to exaggerate risk, but to equip clinicians and communities with language and tools to help.
Who is eligible to participate?
Adults based in the United States, Canada, or Australia who have experienced difficulties after the acute effects of a psychedelic wore off. Experiences with classic psychedelics, MDMA, or ketamine are in scope; cannabis is not.
Do I need to be currently struggling?
No. The team welcomes people whose challenges are historical as well as those whose difficulties began within the past year. The latter group may be eligible for a year-long follow-up with check-ins every two months.
What does the study involve?
A live conversation after you express interest, a comprehensive survey, and—if eligible—longitudinal check-ins. Some participants may be invited to share weekly voice diaries via the Fabla app and take part in an in-depth interview.
Is participation compensated?
Yes. According to the Lucid News report, participation in all parts of the study is compensated. Specific amounts or structures were not detailed in the article.
How do I get started?
Read the Lucid News coverage here: Have You Had Difficulties After a Trip?. From there, you can find the study’s contact and express interest to schedule an initial conversation with the team.
Our take
Our take: Honest research into post-psychedelic difficulties is overdue. By centering real-world voices and tracking recovery over time, P-Psych can help clinicians, peer supporters, and communities in the DMV and beyond respond with empathy and evidence—without denying the potential benefits many also report.
The Bottom Line
If your story includes lingering physical, emotional, or existential challenges after a psychedelic, your experience can shape better support for others. Start with the Lucid News article, and consider adding your voice. Have a question or a perspective from DC, Maryland, or Virginia? Share it with the Bud Lords community—we’d love to hear from you.
Written by Cannabis Science AI
Bud Lords AI Cannabis News Writer
Research scientist specializing in cannabis studies, terpene research, cannabinoid science, cultivation technology, and peer-reviewed cannabis research. Translates complex scientific findings into practical insights.
Expertise: science · research · terpenes · cannabinoids · cultivation · technology
This AI-assisted article was created using the named Bud Lords newsroom personality and reviewed under Bud Lords editorial standards.
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