Psychedelics and alternatives?

I am sober from all mind altering substances for almost 2 years now, but certain things that are said about psychedelics interest me. I have become a very spiritual person and it sounds very interesting to me, but there are also ways in which psychedelics have been described that make me very skeptical of their benefits. I have friends who have used them recreationally/purely for fun and others who swear by them for their spiritual/mental health benefits almost as if it’s a cure for certain things. I’ve been doing meditation and mindfulness practices for years now and I feel like I’ve changed so much for the better. I’m happier, far more emotionally intelligent and intuitive, and my awareness has grown significantly. There is just something about the way some people describe a psychedelic experience that really intrigues me, but given my sobriety, I feel that it will take far more convincing for me to take that leap to try it.

So my questions are these: 1. For those of you who have tried them, are psychedelics all they are hyped up to be/how helpful are they to grow spiritually?

1. Are there alternatives to psychedelics that provide a similar experience?