The user viewpoints on norms, attitudes, and behaviours surrounding psychedelic substances as they are expressed in a Danish online forum are the topic of this study. In order to take into account the dialectical interaction between individual and shared knowledge regarding the use and meaning of psychedelics, the study combines an interest in online drug research with a focus on discourse analysis. A socio-cognitive approach to the study of discourse was used as inspiration for the theme coding and analysis of 1,865 postings from 154 threads of online conversation. A small number of dominating discourses emerged after all topics were divided into 54 categories and further studied to trace recurrent patterns in the formation of meaning. There were found to be five main the recreational, the therapeutic, the spiritual, and the scientific. and the discussion of performance. When forum users describe, argue, and negotiate their understandings and usage of psychedelics, we contend that these discourses can be regarded as the frameworks that they can draw from and replicate. The significance of taking a nuanced approach to user impressions is illustrated by this study. Future drug policy and practise development should include these distinctions and prepare for wide variance in the purposes and modes of psychedelic use.
KeywordsPsychedelics; Illicit drugs; Online forum; Discourse analysis; User perspectives
Published Date: 2023-02-28; Received Date: 2023-02-02
