Newsletter

Dear Zendo Project Supporter,

I recently set up a Zendo Project booth at the BEYOND Wonderland Conference in Austin, Texas. Their conference team generously invited Zendo Project as a community partner and welcomed harm reduction into their event.

Compared with conferences I’ve attended that center research, public health, and safety, this gathering felt focused on celebrating possibility. Given the positive impact that psychedelics have had on my own life, I understand why the possibility of healing draws people in.

It was easy to connect with other attendees around their shared excitement for the benefits of psychedelics. But when I used phrases like “harm reduction,” I felt a bit like a wet blanket at an otherwise fun party.

Our booth sign read, “Learn how to support someone through a challenging psychedelic experience.” I wondered whether that framing made people less inclined to stop by. In hindsight, “Optimize your psychedelic journey with compassionate care” might have landed better with the biohacking crowd. A little funny, but also a useful reflection on how we invite people into the harm reduction conversation.

Care, preparation, and honest education about risks and benefits are part of what makes psychedelic experiences beneficial. As the conversation around psychedelics grows more hopeful, how do we make room for the difficult parts too?

While it felt good to step into a world of unbridled optimism, it also reinforced for me that research, public health guidance, education, and networks of care all play essential roles in stewarding the next phase of the psychedelic movement. At Zendo Project, we want to help build a field where people are prepared for the full range of experiences they may have and can find or provide support when needed. Part of building that field is understanding what people actually experience, the beautiful and the difficult.

So with this, I’de like to invite you to help us document the full spectrum of psychedelic experiences by participating in one (or more!) of the following research opportunities today.

Participate in Psychedelic Research

Here are three important surveys that need your input. Choose one that calls to you or take all three!

1. Have you experienced challenges after a psychedelic experience?

Zendo Project is partnering with researchers at Emory University on a compensated study recruiting 800 people who have experienced challenges that persisted after a psychedelic experience ended. Of those, 400 will be invited into a one-year study to understand how these challenges unfold and what helps along the way.

The study is open to participants in the US, Canada, and Australia. Please consider participating or sharing it with someone who might be interested.

You can also read more about the study in the MAPS bulletin. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected].

2. Have you used psilocybin outside of clinical settings?

Adults 18+ in the US are invited to take a fully anonymous survey on mood and self-esteem. No name, email, or IP collected. No compensation. Walden University IRB-approved (Approval No. 08-12-26-1202521). Voluntary.

3. 2026 Psychedelic Community Survey from the University at Buffalo

Want to help shape research by and for the community?

We invite you to participate in the 2026 Psychedelic Community Survey, a research project conducted for the psychedelic community, by the psychedelic community. Anyone 18 years or older can participate, whether they have experienced psychedelics or not. This survey is anonymous.

The 2026 survey includes several different modules based on the roles and experiences people have regarding psychedelics, including:

• the experiences of psychedelic therapy facilitators

• perceptions of psychedelic clinical trials

• experiences of therapists involved in psychedelic clinical trials

• experiences of volunteers or staff in harm reduction services

• psychedelic use

• first experiences with psychedelics

• memories and psychedelic use

• psychedelics and women’s health issues

We recommend that you take the survey on a private computer or device in a private location.

You can learn about this project here.

Together, we are weaving networks of care, in the psychedelic field and beyond!

With care,
Jessa Hurst
Marketing Director, Zendo Project

P.S. Want to learn how to support someone through a challenging psychedelic experience? December SIT weekend intensive will take place on Dec 5th and 6th!

Want to help us make a difference? Your support matters!

Make a tax-deductible donation.