Non-pharmacological variables also shape psychedelic experiences which alter perception, cognition and emotion. Although recreational psychedelic users face higher risks of challenging experience than clinical population, they often encounter mystical experiences under the right conditions. Mystical experiences can lead to long-term mental health benefits and enhancement of well-being. We examined the role of intrinsic (e.g. personality, motives for use, previous psychedelic experience) and extrinsic (e.g. drug type and dose, enivironmental setting, harm reduction practices) non-pharmacological factors in mystical experiences of recreational psychedelic use. We also investigated the relationship between mystical and challenging experiences. Our sample included 303 adult recreational users who had taken more than a microdose of a psychedelic substance at least once in the past year. Participants completed an online survey detailing their most recent psychedelic experience, including substance type, drug dose used, environmental setting, number of previous psychedelic experiences, time elapsed since their last experience and demographic information. They also completed questionnaires about mystical experiences, challenging experiences, harm reduction practices, motives for psychedelic use and personality. The results showed that personality traits of openness, extraversion, agreeableness, along with motives related to spirituality, connection with nature and self-exploration predicted more intense mystical experiences. Intensity of mystical experiences was positively associated with more past experiences with psychedelics, use of ayahuasca, DMT or 5-MeO-DMT, higher drug doses, spiritual or religious ceremonial settings and employing more harm reduction practices. Higher intensity in challenging experiences was negligibly yet significantly associated with higher intensity of mystical experiences. The research findings offer insights into psychological and contextual factors that enhance the quality of psychedelic experiences in a population more prone to risks. Results also support harm reduction organizations in their efforts to raise awareness among recreational psychedelic users about enhancing the likelihood of having positive experiences.
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