Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study
Pål-ørjan Johansen, Teri Suzanne Krebs
Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114568039 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 135,095 |
| Population | Randomly selected United States adults |
| Topics | Addiction Anxiety LSD Mescaline Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Population Clinical psychology Depression economics Public health Suicide prevention Poison control Medical emergency Environmental health |
| Citations | 300 |
| Key findings | Lifetime use of psychedelics was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year mental health problems, including serious psychological distress, suicidal thoughts or attempts, depression, or anxiety. |
Abstract
A recent large population study of 130,000 adults in the United States failed to find evidence for a link between psychedelic use (lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin or mescaline) and mental health problems. Using a new data set consisting of 135,095 randomly selected United States adults, including 19,299 psychedelic users, we examine the associations between psychedelic use and mental health. After adjusting for sociodemographics, other drug use and childhood depression, we found no significant associations between lifetime use of psychedelics and increased likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, mental health treatment, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans and suicide attempt, depression and anxiety. We failed to find evidence that psychedelic use is an independent risk factor for mental health problems. Psychedelics are not known to harm the brain or other body organs or to cause addiction or compulsive use; serious adverse events involving psychedelics are extremely rare. Overall, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 4 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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State of the evidence: LSD for addiction No effect
Lifetime use of psychedelics was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year mental health problems, including substance use disorders.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: LSD for anxiety No effect
Lifetime psychedelic use was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year anxiety or other mental health problems.
Synthesized
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Lifetime psychedelic use was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year mental health problems, suicidal thoughts or attempts, depression, or anxiety.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Addiction No effect
Lifetime use of psychedelics was not significantly associated with increased likelihood of past-year mental health problems, and psychedelics are not known to cause addiction or compulsive use.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects Healthy participants | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 16 |
| Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Navajo Native Americans aged 18-45 | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 176 |
| Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Normal men who were volunteers | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 12 |
| 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A New Hallucinogenic Drug Normal control volunteers | 1967 | Observational study | |
| EFFECTS OF MESCALINE AND LYSERGIC ACID (d-LSD-25) Schizophrenic patients and normal individuals | 1952 | Observational study |