People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences
Monnica T. Williams, Alan K. Davis, Yitong Xin, Nathan D. Sepeda, Pamela A Colón Grigas, Sinead M. Sinnott, Angela M Haeny
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy December 10, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2020.1854688 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 313 |
| Population | Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the US and Canada |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) 3 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) |
| Duration | 30 days before and 30 days after the psychedelic experience |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mental health Clinical psychology Psychopathology Depression economics Hallucinogen Racism |
| Citations | 100 |
| Key findings | Psychedelics were associated with significant decreases in traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress after a racist experience, with a strong positive relationship between acute psychedelic effects and reduced psychopathology. |
Abstract
This study examined how psychedelics reduced symptoms of racial trauma among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) subsequent to an experience of racism. A cross-sectional internet-based survey included questions about experiences with racism, mental health symptoms, and acute and enduring psychedelic effects. Changes in mental health were assessed by retrospective report of symptoms in the 30 days before and 30 days after an experience with psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). We recruited 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada. Results revealed a significant (p p p p c = 0.52, p < .001) between the dimension of acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and decreases in a cluster of subsequent psychopathology (traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress), while controlling for the frequency of prior discrimination and the time since the psychedelic experience. BIPOC have been underrepresented in psychedelic studies. Psychedelics may decrease the negative impact of racial trauma. Future studies should examine the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for individuals with a history of race-based trauma.