A psychedelic substance is a psychoactive drug that has the ability to alter cognition and perception in an individual. It has been a matter of debate for a long time that a psychedelic substance can cause the starting point of mental illness in an addict. In fact, psychiatrists are prejudiced against the use of psychedelic drugs blaming its use mdma for sale for causing mental illnesses and developing suicidal tendencies. However, according to a new study, there is no correlation between psychedelic drug use and mental illness.
The authors of the study claim that the potential harms associated with these drugs are negligible and psychedelic drugs do not cause addiction or compulsive use. It says that only 0. 005 percent of emergency department visits in the united states are linked with psychedelic drugs. According to the researchers, even in countries like the Netherlands, where psilocybin (a psychedelic drug) mushrooms are accessible and used, the rates of serious injuries related to a drug will be low.
The technique
The study done by Johansen and Krebs used the annual data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which compiles figures related to substance use and mental health from a random sample that is representative of the You. S. civilian non-institutionalized population. The researchers collated data from participants who have been 17 years and older from survey years 2008-2011.
The researchers studied a sample comprising of 135, 095 participants, of whom 19, 299 reported lifetime use of a psychedelic substance, including LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, or peyote. We were looking at all classic cases of serotonergic psychedelics. The authors then investigated 11 self-reported indicators of past year mental health problems, which included depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts.
The psychedelic users were found to be younger, male, white, unmarried, prone to use risky activities, and to purchase other drugs. They are even likely to report depression before the age of 17. Childhood depression, thought the researchers, could be the reason why participants tried psychedelic drugs. The study found that lifetime use of psychedelic substances was not associated with any mental health problems. On the contrary, the lifetime psychedelic use was associated with a lower likelihood of past year inpatient mental health treatment in that person.
But people that have severe cases of addiction from drugs need to go for detox, as its negative impacts from long-term abuse act like any other substance of abuse. Those looking for drug addiction treatment centers can choose from a bunch of treatment centers spread across the state.
Key takeaways
The study debunked several misguided beliefs from the past and concluded that psychedelic drugs do not cause mental illness themselves. For instance, in the past, especially in the sixties, using psychedelic drugs was associated with “flashbacks” among recovering addicts. But the authors said that people who allegedly experienced so-called flashbacks were actually diagnosed with schizophrenia and they were already obsessing about their drug experience.
Data drawn by the study:
Using psychedelic drugs for long was not significantly associated with the majority of mental health outcomes.
The past year use of LSD was associated with a borderline lowering of past year psychological distress.
Using psychedelic drugs was not associated with higher risks for suicidal ideation, suicide planning, or suicide attempts among the participants.