Results: OVERVIEW

The menu of choices to the right link to all of the results tables in the survey. Below are brief descriptions of each category, along with links to the respective data.

Please note that almost all of the raw data of the survey is available on this site. This allows the motivated reader to analyze the data by their own criteria, which may or may not be different from that which I have used.

Of particular significance is that all of the textual responses provided by respondents (who I also refer to as "Subjects" or "Ss") is provided in full. This textual data is extremely revealing and the reader is encouraged to browse the Ss comments. As far as I am aware, this site is the only source available for comparing in great detail, the opinions of 61 people about their psychedelic drug experiences.

 

Demographics

Sixty one people responded to the survey (n=61); 15% were female, 85% were male. The age distribution and distribution by country is shown in Respondent Profile. Clearly, this demographic data shows that roughly 60% of respondents were male, college-age students from the USA. The other 40% of respondents represent the countries of Northern Europe, Australia and Canada with only very minor representation in the Far East. These demographics are no surprise considering the nature of the survey. However, they are significant to the study in regards to applying statistical assumptions, for any use of Gausian statistics assumes a random sample, and, given the demographics of this study (i.e. mostly college age students) one might argue that this data set does not reflect a truly random sample of hallucinogenic drug users. This is probably true. Another factor biasing the sample is that all respondents were computer users and this in itself implies certain socioeconomic and perhaps even intellectual biases.

 

Usage

Polydrug (i.e. used more than just hallucinogenic drugs) users constituted 95% of the sample. 58% of respondents used hallucinogenic drugs more than 20 times. Respondents seem roughly equally distributed regarding length of time using hallucinogens based on a 1 and 5 year distinction. Half of the users take hallucinogens "a few times a year", the other half take them "a few times a month". Usage statistics are shown in the Usage Table.

The most prominent hallucinogen used was LSD (95%), followed by psylocibin-containing mushrooms (82%), with smaller use of mescaline (18%) and peyote (13%). 45% reported using "other" hallucinogens and these ranged from morning glory seeds, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine - "ecstasy") to relatively obscure compounds such as DMT (dimethyltryptophan). Thus, overall, the respondent sample was relatively experienced in hallucinogenic drug use. Subjects use of other drugs, including their comparisons of psychedelic and nonpsychedelic drugs is given in the Other Drugs Table.

 

Physiological Effects

Respondents were asked 4 questions that pertain to physiological alterations during the course of a psychedelic drug experience. In the context of the survey, "physiological" referred to somatic and autonomic motor function. These included questions about:

  • How psychedelics affect sleep
  • The occurrence of spontaneous laughter
  • Whether or not they get fidgety
  • How psychedelics affect their sexual drive, both at the peak of the drug experience and as the drug effect wears off.

Physiological results are summarized in the Motor and Autonomic Effects Table. Clearly, sensory, emotional and cognitive functions are neurologically based phenomena, but these latter were separated out for closer analysis.

 

Sensory Hallucinations (The special senses)

Respondents were asked four main questions about their sensory perceptions under the influence of psychedelic drugs. These included:

Emotional

Subjects (Ss) were asked: (1) about how psychedelics affect their emotions, and (2) how psychedelics affect their empathy with other people.

 

Cognition And Thinking

Psychedelic means "mind manifesting" ( Click here to read the original article in which Humphrey Osmund coined this term). Subjects were asked questions about the effects of psychedelic drugs on their mental and cognitive behavior, including:

 

 

Spiritual and Psychic

As the main hypothesis of this survey is that the effects of psychedelic drugs are similar to Kundalini awakening, and as Kundalini awakening is seen by Tantric and Occult practitioners as a spiritual experiences, it was important to gauge the effects of psychedelic drugs on the spiritual life of the respondents. Many authors (such as Alan Watts ) have recognized the spiritual dimension of psychedelic substances (Click here to go to a list of articles about Psychedelics and Religious Experiences). The contribution of my work is to associate the spiritual dimension of psychedelic drugs with Kundalini awakening. Subjects were asked if (1) psychedelics have had an effect on their spirituality and (2) if they have even had what they consider to be a psychedelic-induced spiritual or religious experience. Since Tantric sources claim that awakened kundalini confers psychic abilities, one question was also asked about the occurrence of psychedelic-induced out-of-body experience.

 

Summary of Results

All of the numerical results are presented in . The Summary of Numerical Results Table.

 

Survey Menu

FILLER

Results