In brief
- Nearly 600 psychedelic users endorsed 18 of 19 recommendations from a 1967 LSD manual.
- The highest levels of agreement involved remembering that the experience is temporary, understanding that anxiety doesn’t mean something is wrong, and being with trusted people.
- Only the advice to avoid mirrors drew mixed opinions.
A one-dollar manual published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in February 1967 still rings true for those who use psychedelics today. This is according to a University of Buffalo survey published in the journal Psychedelics, which asked nearly 600 users to evaluate the recommendations from that historical text.
A Pioneering Harm Reduction Manual
The document is titled “Session Games People Play: A Manual for the Use of LSD.” It was written by Lisa Bieberman, a Radcliffe College graduate, and distributed by the Psychedelic Information Center in Cambridge. It focused on best practices for those trying the substance for the first time and how to handle potential complications. Its guidelines included being with trusted people, avoiding public settings, and clearing negative emotions before starting, in addition to identifying behaviors to avoid during a session.
The research team, led by Daniel Kruger, a researcher at the University of Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, and Paul Gillis-Smith of the Harvard Divinity School, sought to determine how much of that advice remains relevant today.
What the Participants Reported
Nearly 600 people who identified as psychedelic users participated. They were recruited through online advertisements and in person at a psychedelic advocacy event held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 85, with a mean age of 43, and some identified as psychedelic guides or educators. The substances mentioned included LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, ayahuasca, ketamine, and MDMA, with the majority having used them within the past year.
Respondents agreed with 18 of the 19 recommendations in the manual. Regarding general advice, the consensus was strongest on two points: remembering that the experience will end and accepting that anxiety may arise, which does not necessarily mean something is going wrong. Regarding preparation, the majority supported being with people one knows, appreciates, and trusts, and keeping in mind that, even with a guide, much of the work is done by the individual. The only guideline with mixed responses was the advice to avoid mirrors during the trip.
According to Kruger, participants clearly endorsed advice that emphasizes interpersonal trust, personal responsibility, and psychological preparation—principles he notes are considered cornerstones of safe and meaningful experiences in clinical research.
Implications
The study measures agreement, not outcomes. The fact that a community considers advice reasonable does not prove that it inherently reduces problems, and the sample consists of people who already identify as users and who responded to ads or attended a psychedelic-focused event. It is a snapshot of that community’s perspective, not that of the general population.
Even so, the data has practical interest. Kruger points out that psychedelic use today exceeds levels seen in the 1960s and that most current users do so outside of regulated contexts with little preventive education. In that gap, a text from nearly six decades ago serves as a starting point for harm reduction. You can expand on the context in our guide on LSD and ergot and our guide on harm reduction and responsible use.
Source
- University of Buffalo. Study: Obscure 1967 guide for LSD use still relevant as psychedelics gain popularity. Press release regarding Kruger and Gillis-Smith, Psychedelics (DOI 10.1016/j.psyche.2026.100034), September 2026.
Educational content written from a harm reduction perspective and with respect for individual freedom. It is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional and is not intended to encourage or condemn any drug use.
