Peer support and psychedelics

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology
• Mental Health Services Research
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The expansion of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and state-run services necessitates trained facilitators.
• Peer support models exist within both psychedelic and Veteran communities.
• Supervised psychedelic administration is increasingly recognized for therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of peer support in supervised psychedelic administration.
• To compare core competencies of peer support and psychedelic facilitation.
• To identify training and supervision gaps for psychedelic peer support.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing peer support frameworks from psychedelic and Veteran communities.
• Comparative analysis of core competencies in peer support and psychedelic facilitation.
• Exploration of the concept of "psychedelic peership".

Main Results:

• Synergies exist between peer support and psychedelic facilitation competencies.
• Identified gaps in current training and supervision models for psychedelic peer support.
• The concept of "psychedelic peership" requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Peer support offers a valuable framework for supervised psychedelic administration.
• Targeted training and certification are essential to integrate peer support effectively.
• Further research is needed to refine the role and understanding of psychedelic peership.