Jaden Smith, the son of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, recently made a surprising claim during his appearance at the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver. He stated that his mother was the one who initially introduced psychedelic drugs to their family, suggesting that it was her influence that led them down this path. While Jaden did not provide specific details about when he started taking these substances or when he learned of his mother’s own usage, he did emphasize that these drugs had a profound impact on him, making him a more empathetic person.
According to reports from USA Today, Jaden spoke highly of the transformative effects of psychedelic drugs, particularly in terms of his relationship with his siblings. He acknowledged that sibling dynamics often involve arguments and fights, and he and his siblings were no exception. However, Jaden expressed that the use of psychedelics together had allowed them to experience a heightened level of love and empathy toward one another. He described the process as opening their minds, enabling them to break free from old patterns of thinking that had previously caused conflicts, and creating space for resolution and understanding.
“I think it was my mom, actually, that was really the first one to make that step for the family. 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.
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,” Jaden 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 statements align with a previous discussion he and his mother had on the now-canceled show Red Table Talk, where Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that she had been introduced to plant medicine as a way to cope with her depression. She credited these substances with helping her overcome her struggles, and Jaden shared that he had experimented with mushrooms out of curiosity, leading to a significant shift in his perception of his own ego.
While Jaden’s revelation about his family’s use of psychedelic drugs may come as a surprise to some, it reflects a broader trend observed in recent years. A study published in the journal Addiction found that the use of hallucinogenic drugs, including “magic” mushrooms containing psilocybin, has nearly doubled among young adults in a span of three years. This increase in experimentation with hallucinogens raises concerns among public health officials, who highlight potential risks such as “bad trips” that can have serious consequences, including suicidal ideation.
