Making “bad trips” good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences

Abstract Background We study the significance of stories about bad trips among users psychedelics. Drawing on narrative theory, we describe characteristics such and explore work they do. Methods In-depth qualitative interviews with 50 Norwegian Results Almost all participants had frightening experiences when using psychedelics many described these as trips. The key feature a trip was feeling losing oneself or going crazy, ego dissolution. Most said that could be avoided by following certain rules, based tacit knowledge in subcultures users. Possessing part symbolic boundary distinguished between drug culture insiders outsiders. Some also rejected validity term altogether, arguing reflected lack competence. Finally, most importantly, argued unpleasant during been beneficial sometimes given them deep existential life-altering insights. Conclusion Bad are common Such often transformed into valuable through storytelling. narratives may potent coping mechanism for non-controlled environments, enabling to make sense integrate their life stories. sense-making, work, facilitates continued use psychedelics, even after drugs.