What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails
Hundreds of psychedelic retreats worldwide offer multiday trips with drug-assisted experiences claiming to promote psychological healing and personal growth, despite carrying potential physical, psychological, and interpersonal harms. The US FDA has not approved any psychedelics, although an executive order was signed to accelerate reviews of psychedelics for conditions like PTSD.
Psychedelic retreats are a booming business with hundreds of outfits worldwide offering multiday trips. Attendees pay for drug-assisted experiences claiming to promote psychological healing and personal growth. Many retreats have safety procedures, but researchers warn of potential physical, psychological, and interpersonal harms. The US FDA has not approved any psychedelics, although President Donald Trump signed an executive order to accelerate reviews. MDMA was rejected as a PTSD treatment in 2024 due to safety and effectiveness concerns. Dr. John Krystal, a Yale School of Medicine psychiatrist, says psychedelics should be approached as a serious medical procedure with carefully managed risks. The retreats are currently illegal in the US, as the drugs offered are illegal under federal law.
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