Unlimited Sciences is a psychedelic research nonprofit that uses the power of data to serve the community, educate the public, and inform common-sense practices and policies regarding psychedelic use. At Unlimited Sciences, we’re focused on driving psychedelic research forward, and our goal is to capture observational data in real-world settings and share these results with the public. It’s estimated that over 32 million people have used some form of psychedelics in the U.S. alone. Our goal is to access this knowledge, mitigate harm and reduce stigma through education.

Unlimited Sciences conducts IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved observational studies on psychedelic medicine. We partner with leading research institutions such as Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and Imperial College London (ICL) to gather real-world data on how psychedelics are being used, and the benefits and risks associated with them. Whether you’re seeking help, an advocate working in psychedelic legislation, or a health care provider seeking evidence-based research to inform best practices around psychedelics use, we’re here to support you.

It’s estimated that in the United States alone, around 10% of the population, or over 32 million people, have used psychedelics. By even the most conservative estimate, over 99% of these uses have taken place in a naturalistic setting (outside of clinical research). Observational studies observe participants in their normal environment (outside of a clinical setting) and observe how participants’ actions affect their health in real-world situations.

The data collected in observational research is often used to identify patterns or associations between different variables and to generate hypotheses or ideas that can be tested in clinical trials. In other words, observational research is often a first step in the research process. Observational research does not involve intervention or manipulation of variables, while clinical trials do.  This means that observational research can be less invasive and less risky for participants.

Observational research is not just retrospective, but can be used to observe changes in health outcomes over time. Results from observational studies are regarded as a critical indicator of how outcomes translate to clinical practice. Both observational research and clinical trials are important tools for advancing scientific knowledge and understanding the world around us. 

Psychedelic medicine can benefit many individuals. Prior to widespread regulatory restrictions in the 1960s and early 1970s, serotonergic psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin were studied extensively. This included investigation of possible therapeutic uses of psychedelics to treat a variety of conditions, including alcohol dependence, neurosis, and existential distress. By 1965, there were more than 2,000 published articles involving over 40,000 patients that noted positive effects with various psychedelics. In recent years, research has reemerged and has begun to recognize the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine to produce lasting improvements in mental health symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and substance misuse. Beyond its potential for treating psychiatric conditions, research in healthy volunteers suggests psychedelics may hold benefits more generally for psychological well-being and to enhance spiritual practices such as meditation.

In collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, Unlimited Sciences conducted the largest real-world, longitudinal study of psilocybin in the world. This study followed participants through their psilocybin journey, beginning with baseline measures capturing health outcomes prior to psilocybin use, and continuing for up to 3 months after psilocybin use. Our results show that a single moderate dose of psilocybin mushrooms was associated with significant improvements in mental health, well-being, and psychological functioning. In addition to our psilocybin study, Unlimited Sciences conducted the first study of its kind to examine health outcomes of ceremonial ayahuasca use in a group of primarily women refugees and immigrants.  

If you’re trying to learn more about psychedelics to educate yourself, make more informed decisions around your health, or prepare for a safe journey, our Community Support can help. Using our own data and an extensive library of evidence-based research, we can help guide you to find answers for your questions through reliable research from peer-reviewed scientific publications. This support service is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Unlimited Sciences always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.