Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
Database tracks 25,419 calls for support during psychedelic experiences
Researchers published a database of psychedelic support calls collected by the Fireside Project, a nonprofit that runs a support line.
It covers 25,419 interactions from April 2021 to February 2026, handled by 220 trained peer supporters, plus 2,777 satisfaction surveys.
Psilocybin was the most commonly reported substance, while cannabis accounted for 12.8% of substance-coded interactions.
Cannabis callers were more likely to seek help while actively intoxicated, and cannabis had the highest overall distress rate; however, this was largely linked to when people called, and distress rates did not differ significantly among major substances within comparable call types.
The data suggest that timing matters more than the substance when predicting distress, but they reflect people who contacted the line, not all drug users.
Researchers also recorded 43 reports of facilitator abuse, which Fireside did not independently verify.
The de-identified data and analysis code are available for research, including work on safety, support and training.
A study in Science Advances analyzes 25,419 interactions with Fireside Project’s Psychedelic Support Line from April 2021 to February 2026.
The database includes calls handled by 220 trained peer supporters and 2,777 post-interaction satisfaction surveys.
Psilocybin was the most commonly reported substance, appearing in 59.9% of substance-coded interactions.
Cannabis had the highest pooled distress rate, but the authors said this was largely explained by cannabis users being more likely to call while intoxicated.
The authors say the database reflects people who contacted the support line and is not representative of all psychedelic or cannabis users.
- Who
- Fireside Project and researchers collaborating with it.
- What
- They published a database and study analyzing 25,419 psychedelic support-line interactions.
- When
- The interactions took place from April 2021 to February 2026; the study was published in Science Advances in October 2026.
- Where
- The interactions were with Fireside Project’s Psychedelic Support Line. The study was published in Science Advances.
- Why
- To provide researchers with evidence about psychedelic use and support outside clinical settings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fireside Project’s Psychedelic Support Line recorded the 25,419 interactions analyzed in the study.
Gizmodo reported on the database and the study published in Science Advances.
News-Medical reported Fireside Project’s announcement of the study and database.
- Interactions analyzed
- 25,419
- Peer supporters
- 220
- Post-interaction surveys
- 2,777
- Most reported substance
- Psilocybin, 59.9% of substance-coded interactions
- Cannabis calls
- 2,004 calls reported by Gizmodo
- Facilitator abuse reports
- 43 interactions classified as reports of facilitator abuse
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What people are saying
We want researchers to use these data to ask better questions about what makes psychedelic experiences safer, more supportive and potentially more healing, and what puts people at greater risk.
The goal of this resource is to make the real-world landscape more scientifically tractable, from epidemiology and safety monitoring to the study of what effective psychological support actually looks like.
Cannabis merits particular attention because it occupies a unique policy position
indicates that cannabis-related psychological distress is a real and recurring phenomenon.