Jai Whelan

2026

Journal - Research Article

Boardman, A., Whelan, J., & Ward, R. D. (2026). Personalised perception: The effect of personality on the sensory effects of psychedelics. Drug & Alcohol Review, 45, e70172. doi: 10.1111/dar.70172

Whelan, J., John, T., Crossin, R., & Ward, R. D. (2026). Consuming and thinking about nangs: A survey of nitrous oxide use, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 58(3), 335-344. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2452224

Journal - Research Other

Kolodziej, J., Judge, M., Baker, M., Crossin, R., & Whelan, J. (2026). Safe drug laws for Aotearoa: Why our 50-year-old drug legislation needs to go. The Briefing, (24 February). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/safer-drug-laws-aotearoa-why-our-50-year-old-drug-legislation-needs-go

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Crossin, R., Ryder, B., Sims, E., & Whelan, J. (2026). Alcohol and other drug harm reduction literature review. (pp. 1-118). Wellington, New Zealand: Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Retrieved from https://www.mhwc.govt.nz

2025

Journal - Research Article

Mills, E., Whelan, J., McGruddy, S., & Ward, R. D. (2025). Exploring motivations, experiences, and consequences of psychedelic use in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2474236

McGruddy, S., Whelan, J., Mills, E., Boardman, A., & Ward, R. D. (2025). The psychedelic mind: Current user perceptions of psychedelic drugs and their use. Drugs, Habits & Social Policy, 25(3-4), 189-203. doi: 10.1108/DHS-03-2024-0013

Crossin, R., Whelan, J., Hughes, E., & Birks Ang, B. (2025). A policy analysis of how alkyl nitrites (poppers) became prescription-only in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Drug Policy, 144, 104105. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104105

Crossin, R., Whelan, J., & Ball, J. (2025). Defining and measuring 'inhalant' use in population-based surveys. International Journal of Drug Policy, 144, 103991. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103991

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Whelan, J. (2025, June). Exploring methamphetamine stigma, treatment and harm reduction options in Aotearoa. Verbal presentation at the Department of Nursing / Te Tari Taphui Research Symposium, Christchurch Ōtautahi, New Zealand.

2024

Journal - Research Article

Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. D. (2024). 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) consumption in Aotearoa New Zealand: A quantitative survey exploration. Drug Science, Policy & Law, 10. doi: 10.1177/20503245241274170

Whelan, J., Ward, R. D., & Noller, G. (2024). A thematic analysis of MDMA-related harm and harm reduction experiences and knowledge in Aotearoa New Zealand. Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 100. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-01024-8

Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. D. (2024). Harm reduction behaviours and harm experiences of people who use 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 67. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-00979-y

Whelan, J., Noller, G. E., & Ward, R. D. (2024). Rolling through TikTok: An analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-related content. Drug & Alcohol Review, 43, 36-44. doi: 10.1111/dar.13640

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mills, E., Whelan, J., McGruddy, S., & Ward, R. D. (2024). Voices from the psychedelic journey: A narrative exploration of motivations, experiences and impacts in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drug & Alcohol Review, 43(Suppl 1.), 150. doi: 10.1111/dar.13943

Mills, E., Whelan, J., McGruddy, S., & Ward, R. D. (2024). Exploring motivations, experiences and consequences of psychedelic use in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drug & Alcohol Review, 43(Suppl 1.), 147. doi: 10.1111/dar.13943

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Whelan, J. (2024). An exploration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in Aotearoa New Zealand (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10523/42739

2023

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2023). A thematic analysis of MDMA-related harm and harm reduction experiences in Aotearoa. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Symposium. (pp. 13). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html

Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2023). 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine use in Aotearoa: A quantitative survey exploration. Drug & Alcohol Review, 42(Suppl. 1), 99. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749

Mills, E., Boardman, A., McGruddy, S., Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2023). From neuralgia to hallucinogen persistent perception disorder and back again: A cautionary tale. Drug & Alcohol Review, 42(Suppl. 1), 161. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749

Boardman, A., McGruddy, S., Mills, E., Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2023). Reported effects of psychedelic experiences on personal cognitions and beliefs in Aotearoa. Drug & Alcohol Review, 42(Suppl. 1), 188. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749

2022

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Whelan, J., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2022). MDMA user harm reduction in Aotearoa. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Symposium. (pp. 18). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html

2021

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Whelan, J., Fellows, N., Noller, G., & Ward, R. (2021). Dunedin in ecstasy: MDMA use, user experience, and knowledge. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 63). [Abstract]

2019

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ohline, S. M., Chan, C. H., Whelan, J., Smith, H., Logan, B. J., Morrissey, J. A., Schoderboeck, L., Peppercorn, K., Tate, W. P., Hughes, S. M., & Abraham, W. C. (2019). Stimulation of neurogenesis by a potential therapeutic protein. In K. Hillman (Ed.), Proceedings of the 37th International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR). (pp. 57). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/awcbr