Psychedelic Science: The Intersection of Sports, Brain Health, and Psychedelics
I. The Psychedelic Science Conference Landscape
During the world - renowned Psychedelic Science, the largest psychedelics conference, the vast halls and expansive showrooms of the Colorado Convention Center are a hub of diverse activity. Exhibitors offer an array of products, from mushroom - themed jewelry to chewable gummies containing extracts of the psychoactive kanna plant, and baseball caps emblazoned with “MDMA” and “IBOGA.” Booths promote organizations such as the Ketamine Taskforce, the Psychedelic Parenthood Community, and even The Faerie Rings, a live - action film seeking investors.
This is a diverse and eclectic symposium, where indigenous - plant - medicine healers interact with pharma - industry representatives, legendary underground LSD chemists, and everyday enthusiasts wearing large red - and - white toadstool hats reminiscent of Mario - game characters. Among these curiosities, the sight of brawny NFL players openly discussing their emotions stands out.
II. “Healing Behind the Highlights” at Psychedelic Science 2025
A. Panel Composition and Topic
One of the keynote talks at Psychedelic Science 2025 was “Healing Behind the Highlights.” Hosted by podcaster and nutritional supplement salesman Aubrey Marcus, the panel featured three NFL stars: Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer, retired Raiders guard Robert Gallery, and San Francisco 49ers guard Jon Feliciano. They discussed how psychedelic drugs have positively impacted their off - field lives.
B. Athletes' Psychedelic Experiences
The players shared their experiences at retreat centers, where they consumed the hallucinogenic ayahuasca. These experiences allowed them to reconcile their on - field tough - guy personas with their human vulnerabilities. Ayahuasca and its primary psychoactive chemical, N,N - Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are known to potentially bring about significant self - understanding through what researchers term the “mystical experience.” However, Poyer and other athletes propose that psychedelics can offer not only psychological or spiritual changes but also physical and neurological benefits to damaged brains, a concept particularly appealing to high - contact sport athletes.
III. Concussions in the NFL: A Persistent Problem
A. Jordan Poyer's Concussion History
Jordan Poyer has had multiple concussions. In a game on January 22, 2023, against the Cincinnati Bengals, he and Tre’Davious White collided while attempting to stop Tee Higgins. The head - to - head, helmet - to - helmet impact was audible, and Poyer had to leave the game after a head - injury evaluation. Prior to this, he experienced symptoms such as extreme anger, irritability, and cluster headaches, all signs of repeated head trauma.
B. Concussions in the NFL - Statistics and Impact
Despite improvements in safety equipment and rule changes, neurotrauma remains a reality in the NFL. Injury records reported approximately 692 concussions between 2019 and 2023. Concussions, a form of traumatic brain injury, can lead to neuron loss, neurological disorders, and cognitive deficits. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma, affects memory, judgment, and executive function, and is alarmingly prevalent among former NFL players, as seen in cases like Aaron Hernandez.
IV. Psychedelics as a Potential Solution
A. Poyer's Psychedelic Journey
Poyer, inspired by Aaron Rodgers' success after using ayahuasca, embarked on his own psychedelic journey. After the 2022 NFL season, he visited Resonance, a Costa Rican retreat. His ayahuasca experiences not only helped him address his alcoholism but also led him to take ayahuasca 10 more times, hoping for potential healing from repeated concussions. He also experimented with yopo and kambo.
B. Research on Psychedelics and Brain Health
- Clinical Research Focus
Serious clinical research on psychedelic compounds is increasing, but most focuses on mental health conditions rather than traumatic brain injury. Ayahuasca, Poyer's choice, is an outlier due to its ceremonial use, which is difficult to replicate in a clinical setting. The “set and setting” of ayahuasca ceremonies, including the expectations and environment, are hard to disentangle from the drug's effects.
- Neurogenesis and Neuroplasticity
Some research links psychedelics to neurogenesis (neuron growth) in animals, but its functional significance in humans is debated. Neuroplasticity, the stimulation of new neuronal connections, shows more promise. Psychedelics may act as “brain fertilizer,” and their anti - inflammatory properties could benefit concussion - affected brains. Ayahuasca, with its additional compounds harmine and harmaline, may be particularly effective in this regard.
- Animal and Human Research
Research on rats with repeated concussive hits has found psilocybin to be a promising treatment, though it awaits peer review. Manesh Girn is designing a rodent study on 5 - MeO - DMT for cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury. While some neuroplasticity research shows regeneration in the medial prefrontal cortex in animals, the evidence in humans is currently weak.
C. Cautionary Notes
- Self - Medication Risks
Physicians like Gregory Carter caution against athletes self - medicating with psychedelics. Although psychedelics may have therapeutic value, they need to be used in a monitored and controlled environment due to unknown dosing paradigms and drug interactions.
- Lack of Human Evidence
Brandon Weiss of Johns Hopkins University's Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research notes that while psychedelics may not pose unique harms to brains with damage, there is currently no clear structural, neuroimaging evidence of repair in humans post - psychedelic intervention. His team is recruiting military veterans to test the effectiveness of psychedelic compounds for treating cognitive symptoms related to traumatic brain injury.
V. NFL's Stance on Psychedelics
The NFL and NFLPA do not currently prohibit ayahuasca or other classical psychedelics like psilocybin in their performance - enhancing drug or substance - abuse policies, though they screen for MDMA. NFLPA representatives are aware of players experimenting with ayahuasca and magic mushrooms and aim to provide information. Jordan Poyer claims that league officials monitor players' social media and subject him to drug tests after his ayahuasca retreats.
VI. Holistic Benefits of Poyer's Psychedelic Use
Beyond potential brain - injury treatment, Poyer's psychedelic use has had holistic benefits. It improved his relationships with his family, helped him overcome alcohol abuse, and separated his identity from his on - field role. This was valuable as he entered NFL Free Agency. In 2025, Poyer was re - signed to the Bills' practice squad, where he can now train younger safeties and share his knowledge of breathwork, plant medicine, and the world.