If Psychedelics Are Here to Stay, Let’s Get It Right

A practical conversation about risk, preparation, and responsibility

Feb 17, 2026

Dear friends,

Psychedelics are not going away.

Millions of people are using them, whether the medical establishment approves or not. So the real question is no longer if people will experiment. The real question is simple:

As Dr. Daniel Kruger puts it,

“Abstinence doesn’t work for everyone. If people are going to do this, we have an obligation to help keep them as safe as possible.”

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kruger from the University of Michigan to discuss new research on adverse psychedelic experiences and what practical safety actually looks like.

We talked about:

how common adverse experiences really are
why fear, sadness, or anxiety may arise during a journey
the difference between temporary discomfort and serious distress
why set and setting are safeguards, not slogans
the difference between self-experimentation and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
how a challenging experience can become therapeutic with proper guidance
why testing powders and pills matters
why ketamine without therapy often misses the point

My position is straightforward.

If people are going to explore these substances, and many are, they deserve honest information. Not scare tactics. Not hype.

Safety. Preparation. Responsibility.

That is how we get this right.

Golden light,
Dr. Richard L. Miller

Links & Resources:

Dr. Daniel Kruger’s Website

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