The Role of Psychedelics for Pro Athletes

In the high-stakes world of professional sports, athletes constantly look for ways to enhance performance, recover from injuries, and maintain peak mental resilience. While traditional training, nutrition, and medical treatments remain essential, a new conversation is emerging around a less conventional tool: psychedelics. 

Research suggests that substances like LSD and psilocybin may offer profound benefits for athletes, from improving focus and creativity to supporting recovery from head injuries and chronic pain. In addition, psychedelics show promise in addressing the intense psychological pressures of competition, helping athletes manage anxiety, depression, and post-career identity struggles. 

“Virtually all athletes who learn to use LSD at psycholytic dosages believe that the use of these compounds improves both their stamina and their abilities.”

— James Oroc

As scientific interest grows and cultural stigma shifts, could psychedelics become a game-changer in professional sports? Let’s explore the potential impact on performance, brain health, pain management, and overall well-being.

Psychedelics and Athletic Performance

A 2020 article published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology discussed the promise of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in advancing mental health treatment for elite athletes. Elite athletes experience mental health challenges at rates similar to or higher than the general population, making psychedelic-assisted therapy a relevant area of study. 

The authors suggest psychedelics could potentially be a novel treatment to address common mental health conditions experienced by elite athletes, such as therapeutic resistance, career transitions, injury-related distress, and interpersonal conflicts. 

As psychedelic therapies progress through regulatory pathways in the U.S. and EU, the article argues that researchers and policymakers must explore their clinical applications, safety and ethical considerations, feasibility, efficacy, and regulatory challenges within sports psychology and psychiatry. 

Potential Mental Health Benefits of Psychedelics for Pro Athletes

There are several ways in which psychedelics may be beneficial for professional athletes:

Enhancing Focus and “Flow States” 

Low doses of psychedelics, particularly LSD and psilocybin, may enhance focus by increasing serotonin receptor activation (5-HT2A) in the prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in cognitive control and attention. 

After a journey, these substances reportedly reduce mind-wandering and intrusive thoughts, helping athletes stay fully present in their training and competition. Some users report an increase in flow state, a psychological state of heightened focus where actions feel effortless, leading to peak performance.

Boosting Problem-Solving and Creativity

Psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to form new connections and think more flexibly. Studies show that psilocybin and LSD increase divergent thinking and the ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem. 

Athletes in complex sports like basketball, soccer, or mixed martial arts may benefit from enhanced adaptability and strategic thinking. These benefits may allow them to outmaneuver opponents and refine techniques. Additionally, ayahuasca may facilitate deep introspection and learning, helping athletes break through mental blocks.

Decreasing Anxiety and Performance Pressure

Psychedelics help reduce anxiety by modulating the amygdala, the brain region responsible for fear processing. Psilocybin, in particular, has shown efficacy in treating social and performance anxiety by promoting emotional openness and reducing overactive fear responses. 

MDMA-assisted therapy has also been explored for athletes dealing with trauma from injuries or setbacks, allowing them to regain confidence and overcome mental barriers that affect performance.

Improving Stress Management and Emotional Resilience

Elite athletes experience high stress due to competition, public scrutiny, and demanding training schedules. Psilocybin fosters emotional regulation by promoting connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which may allow athletes to process and manage stress more effectively. 

Ayahuasca, rich in DMT that is orally active, has been used for centuries for emotional healing, potentially helping athletes safely release past traumas and cultivate mental resilience. The long-lasting antidepressant effects of psychedelics may also reduce burnout and promote overall well-being.

Psychedelic Use Among Extreme Sports Athletes

James Oroc, an athlete and journalist, published an article in MAPS Bulletin about psychedelics and extreme sports. From hang gliding on magic mushrooms, helicopter skiing on acid, pitching baseball on LSD, rock and ice climbing to skydiving on DMT, he shares how he personally witnessed many athletes who accomplished amazing sporting feats under the influence of psychedelics. 

Oroc states that the nonaddictive and nonphysically debilitating qualities of psychedelics are one of the reasons athletes find themselves drawn to them. The other reason for their popularity is their “psycholytic effects at the correct dosages.”

“Virtually all athletes who learn to use LSD at psycholytic dosages believe that the use of these compounds improves both their stamina and their abilities. According to the combined reports of 40 years of use by the extreme sports underground, LSD can increase your reflex time to lightning speed, improve your balance to the point of perfection, increase your concentration until you experience “tunnel vision,” and make you impervious to weakness or pain. LSD’s effects in these regards amongst the extreme-sport community are, in fact, legendary, universal, and without dispute.”

Microdosing and Exercise Adaptation

A 2019 short review looked at the ergogenic potential of full-dosed and micro-dosed psychedelics. The authors stated they did not find any literature that looked at how psychedelics affect mental acuity among athletes; however, they included historical reports such as ancient Greek athletes consuming psilocybin during the Olympics and anecdotal evidence from extreme sports athletes similar to Oroc’s article that support the performance-enhancing effects of psychedelics. 

Reported effects include the following:

• Improvements in stamina, reflex time, and balance
• Facilitation of an unparalleled focus
• Perception of time slowing to their advantage
• Effortless coordination 

The authors concluded the following:

“Microdosing claims to impart many of [the] psychological benefits of full-dose psychedelics without intoxication risks. While specific mechanisms remain uninvestigated, many subjective reports claim microdosing can enhance cognitive function and exercise performance. Furthermore, there is credence to suggest[ing that] various psychedelic doses may enhance athletic performance via augmenting exercise adaptation and facilitating existing pain management strategies. As time progresses, sufficient research may uncover the full potential of psychedelics as both an invaluable clinical tool and novel ergogenic aid.”

Psychedelics for Head Trauma

The CDC estimates that 1.7 to 3.8 million traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur in the United States, with 10% linked to sports and recreational activities. Sports-related head injuries can vary from mild trauma, such as scalp contusions or lacerations, to severe TBIs, which may involve brain bleeding or coma. 

While most TBIs resolve within a week, growing research indicates that repeated minor head impacts can have significant long-term consequences. These include mood swings, depression, anxiety, short-term memory loss, suicide ideation, learning disabilities, cognitive deficits, agitation, and anxiety.

A 2024 narrative review looked at the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychedelics for acquired brain injury (ABI). It discussed the interaction of psychedelics with serotonin receptors and sigma-1 receptors and described the beneficial impact of psychedelics associated with neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, and neuroplasticity. The authors concluded the following:

“The promotion of neuronal growth, cell survival, and anti-inflammatory properties exhibited by psychedelics strongly supports their potential benefit in managing ABI. Further research and translational efforts are required to elucidate their therapeutic mechanisms of action and to evaluate their effectiveness in treating the acute and chronic phases of acquired brain injury.”

Psilocybin and Concussion Recovery

A 2024 study investigated the psychedelic use in athletes and their attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapy in concussion recovery. Researchers rolled out an online survey to athletes and staff in Canada and the United States that assessed various factors, including substance use, sports involvement, demographics, concussion history, and knowledge and willingness about psilocybin. The results showed the following:

• The third most-used substance in the past year among athletes was psychedelics.
• Regular psychedelic use is low in athletes.
• Those who had a knowledge of psilocybin were more likely to support or use psilocybin for concussion recovery.

The study concluded that those in the sports industry would be supportive of psilocybin-assisted therapy; athletes are willing to partake in this novel treatment for concussion recovery or management of persisting post-concussion symptoms.

Professional Athletes Who Have Spoken Out

As we wait for clinical studies to roll out and results to be published, many professional athletes have been speaking publicly about the transformative impact that psychedelics have had on their lives. 

Aaron Rodgers

In June 2023, NFL star quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke about his life-changing experience with psychedelics at the Psychedelic Science Conference held at the Colorado Convention Center. He shared how he took ayahuasca with his teammates and that other pro athletes have connected with him about this experience.

“I found a deeper self-love…[my ayahuasca experience] unlocked that whole world of what I’m really here to do is to connect, to connect with those guys, and to make those bonds and to inspire people.”

Mike Lee

In 2023, ESPN published an article that documented the psychedelic experiences of three professional sports athletes during and after they participated in a retreat held in Jamaica run by Wake Network.

Mike Lee, a professional boxer, was experiencing painful headaches, pain all over his body, mood swings, depression, and anxiety daily. He was addicted to prescription medications and desperate to cope with the pain. He shared his experience of the retreat:

“It’s the ultimate ego killer because, for me at least, it gives you incredible empathy that you’ve never felt before…When you’re doing a journey with other people, you see yourself in them. It’s almost like you’re walking past a mirror, different mirrors. You see parts of yourself in everybody, and you realize that we’re all connected and we’re all going through something. We’re all in some sort of pain, and it humbles you.”

Steve Downie

Steve Downie, a former NHL player who experienced “more concussions than he could remember,” was living with depression, struggling to leave his house, and dealing with a childhood trauma he hadn’t fully processed. He shared his perspective on his psychedelic experience:

“That trip gave me a lot of clarity…It gives you directions. It kind of gives you answers internally. It’s a unique thing I experienced. My year was definitely better than the previous year that’s for sure…Do I think it could help other people? I would say yes. Did it help me? Absolutely.”

Justin Renfrow

Justin Renfrow, an NFL lineman facing a career transition decision, was seeking guidance for his identity struggles. He was on numerous pain medications that threw his body into a tailspin. He wanted clarity on his future with football, and the retreat helped him get the answers he needed. The authors of the article shared the following about Justin’s experience:

“For most of his life, [Justin Renfrow] had viewed himself as a football player. But on his psilocybin journey, he felt like members of his family told him it was OK to let go. When he stood up during the ceremony and peeled off his shirt with his initials, he said he was symbolically letting go of something.”

Therefore, psychedelics offer a promising yet still emerging avenue for enhancing the mental health, recovery, and performance of professional athletes. Early research suggests that substances like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT may help manage anxiety, stress, and trauma while boosting focus, creativity, and problem-solving skills. 

Additionally, their potential to promote neuroplasticity and support concussion recovery makes them a compelling area of study. However, the field remains in its infancy, and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to understand their safety, efficacy, and long-term effects fully.

References

Agarwal, N., Thakkar, R., & Than, K. (2024, April 11). Sports-Related Head Injury. AANS. https://www.aans.org/patients/conditions-treatments/sports-related-head-injury/.

Allen, J., Dames, S. S., Foldi, C. J., & Shultz, S. R. (2024). Psychedelics for Acquired Brain Injury: A Review of Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Molecular Psychiatry, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02360-0.

Hawryluk, M., & Van Valkenburg, K. (2023, April 21). Pain, Hope, Science Collide As Athletes Turn to Magic Mushrooms. ESPN.com. https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/36226140/magic-mushrooms-psychedelics-pain-hope-science-collide.

Machek, S. B. (2019). Psychedelics: Overlooked Clinical Tools with Unexplored Ergogenic Potential. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 2(3). https://journalofexerciseandnutrition.com/index.php/JEN/article/view/50.

Magaraggia, I., Kuiperes, Z., & Schreiber, R. (2021). Improving Cognitive Functioning in Major Depressive Disorder with Psychedelics: A Dimensional Approach. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 183, 107467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107467.

Mason, N. L., Mischler, E., Uthaug, M. V., & Kuypers, K. P. C. (2019). Sub-Acute Effects of Psilocybin on Empathy, Creative Thinking, and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1580804.

Oroc, J. (2011). Psychedelics and Extreme Sports. MAPS Bulletin, 21(1). https://maps.org/news-letters/v21n1/v21n1-25to29.pdf.

The Associated Press. (2023, June 22). Aaron Rodgers Speaks About Psychedelics and How They “Unlocked That Whole World” for Him. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/aaron-rodgers-speaks-psychedelics-unlocked-whole-world-rcna90574.

VanderZwaag, B., Garcia-Romeu, A., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2024). Exploring Psychedelic Use in Athletes and Their Attitudes Toward Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Concussion Recovery. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253241264812.

Walton, C. C., & Liknaitzky, P. (2020). Advancing Elite Athlete Mental Health Treatment with Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2020.1848941.