How Psychedelics Got Their Bad Reputation, and Why It's Time for a New Conversation

Let’s be real, psychedelics have a complicated reputation. For some, the word still conjures images of tie-dye and “bad trips.” For others, it's synonymous with personal healing, insight, and transformation.

As a licensed facilitator, I spend a lot of time sitting with people’s nervous system-level reactions to the word itself. Curiosity laced with fear. Hope mixed with caution. And honestly, I get it. We’ve inherited a cultural narrative full of distortion, fear, and half-told stories.

So let’s pause and ask: Where did the stigma come from? What does the science actually say now? And how do we create more informed, grounded conversations, especially as access continues to grow?