Contextualizing Violence Risk Associated With Hallucinogens
Tyler Durns, Greg Iannuzzi
FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry 2026 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20250027 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | General population using hallucinogens |
| Topics | LSD MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Aggression Poison control Harm Mental illness Suicide prevention Injury prevention Mental health Public health |
| Key findings | The effect of psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA on aggression and violence risk remains inconclusive, and individual risk factors for violence among users need further study. |
Abstract
Psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) have remerged as agents of psychiatric and cultural relevance. However, public discourse has outpaced empirical understanding of their effects. Although hallucinogens have demonstrated a potential to treat certain mental disorders, their effect on aggression and violence risk remains inconclusive. This article reviews the historical, medical, legal, and cultural contexts of these popular psychedelic and entactogenic compounds. The impact of substance type, dose, set and setting, psychiatric comorbidity, and environmental factors on violence is reviewed. Prevention and response strategies relevant to hallucinogenic compounds are discussed, including harm reduction, risk assessment, and treatment. Individual risk factors that mediate violence risk for people who consume psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA remain an area for further research.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 85
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- Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 15, 2018
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
and 80 more in the library