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Psychedelics have had a big impact on the Smith family. At the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver on June 23, Jaden Smith had a candid conversation about the experimental use of psychedelic drugs as a mental health treatment, explaining how they’ve helped his entire family. “I think it was my mom, actually, that was really the first one to make that step for the family,” the 24-year-old singer and actor said. “It was just her for a really, really long time and then eventually it just trickled and evolved, and everybody found it in their own ways.”
“[E]verybody found it in their own ways.”
Jaden said psychedelics have completely transformed his relationships with his siblings, Willow and Trey, helping to bring out more love and compassion. “Siblings can argue so much and fight so much, and lord knows me and my siblings have done so much of that in the past,” he said. “But the level of love and empathy that I can feel for them inside of the [psychedelic] experiences and outside of the experiences has been something that’s profound and beautiful.”
Jaden’s mom, Jada Pinkett Smith, has also opened up about her psychedelic use, saying she initially tried it to treat her depression after going through therapy and using SSRIs like Prozac. In an episode of “Red Table Talk” in 2021, she said, “I struggled with depression for so long. And the thing about the plant medicine is it helps you feel better but also solves the problems of how you got there in the first place.” Even back then, Jaden was in full agreement, explaining how psychedelics helped him overcome his ego and get out of his own head.
“You get to a place where you are blocked by something, whether it’s a trauma or your emotions or ego, not being able to express yourself. Psychedelics are a way to tear down that wall and see what is beyond it,” he said. To his point, some recent studies do point to concrete mental health benefits, with the psilocybin in magic mushrooms acting as a kind of antidepressant, and ketamine therapy also gaining traction for its therapeutic properties. Still, many of these remedies remain illegal and unregulated, and should be used only under close supervision. “Doing it guided with people who are professionals really increases the chances of having that mystical experience,” Jaden said.