Impact of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use on Behavioral Addictions

Thank you for your interest in this questionnaire study on the relationship between psychedelic use and behavioral addictions. This research is being conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has been approved by the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Our Previous Research
Our research team has conducted surveys characterizing positive and challenging experiences after taking psychedelics in nonlaboratory settings, as well as instances in which taking a psychedelic was associated with changes in cigarette smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use and stimulant use. We've also studied both positive and psychologically difficult experiences after giving psilocybin to volunteers in our laboratory.

Purpose of This Study
The goal of this survey is to learn more about the relationship between the use of psychedelic drugs and non-substance addictive behaviors, also known as behavioral addictions.
We want to characterize people's experiences in nonlaboratory settings in which taking a psychedelic may have impacted their degree of involvement in highly stimulating behaviors including gambling, video gaming, internet and/or social media use, pornography and/or other sexual behaviors, and shopping, spending or buying behaviors. If you have experienced problems with any of the five aforementioned categories of behaviors and have had a psychedelic experience following the onset of these problems, you would be a good candidate for this study.
For the purposes of this survey, a psychedelic experience refers to an experience with any of the following: psilocybin (magic) mushrooms, LSD, mescaline/peyote cactus/San Pedro cactus, ayahuasca/DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, ketamine, ibogaine/iboga or MDMA/ecstasy.

Inclusion Criteria
You are invited to participate in this survey if you fulfill all of the four criteria listed below.
1) You are at least 18 years old.
2) You have the ability to read and write in English.
3) Self-identify as having had a problem with a non-substance addictive behaviors or behavioral addiction such as gambling, video gaming, internet and/or social media use, pornography and/or sexual behaviors, and shopping, spending or buying behaviors.
4) You have taken a psychedelic drug outside of an official university or hospital study following the onset of problems with any of the aforementioned categories of behaviors.

What the Study Entails
Participation in this study involves filling out an online survey that will take approximately 30-40 minutes. You will be required to complete the survey in one sitting.

At the conclusion of the main survey, if you are interested, you will be asked to provide your email contact for the opportunity to complete a 30–60-minute interview (conducted online over Zoom) where you can provide additional details on the impact of your psychedelic experience on behavioral addictions. This additional component of the study is completely optional, and you are by no means required to complete this additional section of the study.

Why should I participate?
We believe that this study is scientifically important. We would like you to participate because we need to collect responses from many different people. You may find this survey interesting. There is also a chance that you will be bored. Although there is no monetary compensation for participation in the survey portion of the study, you will be making a unique and important contribution to science. For those that complete the interview portion of the study, a $50.00 online gift card will be provided.

Is my participation confidential?
Yes. We do not collect identifying information such as your name or IP address. Your anonymous responses will be seen and analyzed by Johns Hopkins staff or representatives. To further protect the confidentiality of participants, the results of most questions will be presented in aggregate. We may quote from your textual responses. However, if you provide specific identifying information, we will edit your responses to protect your confidentiality.

For those who volunteer to participate in the interview, we will need a valid email address in order to contact you and organize the online meeting. This email information will only be used for the purpose of contacting you for the study and providing additional information regarding the interview component. 

What kind of information will I be providing?
At the beginning of the survey, you will be asked questions about your background, history of psychedelic use, and history of engagement in behaviors that are within the spectrum of behavioral addictions. Psychological questionnaires are also included to assess relationships between constructs of interest and to better grasp your current psychological wellbeing and overall life functioning.

What will become of the results from this study?
The researchers intend to publish the results from this study in the scientific literature and to present results at scientific meetings.

Your responses will not be used in this study if you do not complete the survey.
Your participation in this study is voluntary. Completing the survey will serve as your consent to be in the study. Even after you begin the survey, you may stop answering the questions at any time. If you stop early, none of your responses will be used. At the end of the survey, you will have a final opportunity to consent, or not, to all of your responses being submitted.

How do I start?
You can begin the survey by clicking 'Begin survey' at the bottom of this page. This survey will take approximately 30-40 minutes. You will be required to complete the survey in one sitting.

It is important that you complete the survey only once, and that you answer each question honestly and seriously. If you are not ready to complete the survey now, please return to this page at a time that is convenient for you.

You can exit the survey at any time by clicking the link in the upper right corner of your screen. If you exit the survey early, your responses will not be used. During the survey, please do not hit the "back" button on your internet browser as it may erase your answers or prematurely terminate your session.

By clicking 'Begin survey' below, you affirm that:

• you have read the information above,
• you voluntarily agree to participate,
• you are at least 18 years old,
• you are able to read and write in English,
• self-identify as having had a problem with a non-substance addictive behaviors or behavioral addiction such as: gambling, video gaming, internet/social media use, pornography/sexual behaviors, and shopping, spending or buying behaviors.
• you have taken a psychedelic drug outside of an official university or hospital study following the onset of problems with any of the aforementioned categories of behaviors.