This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Study suggests therapeutic potential of hallucinogens for violent behavior, IPV

Hallucinogen use was associated with lower rates of intimate partner violence among inmates in a U.S. county jail, suggesting hallucinogens as a potential treatment for violent or problematic behavior.

“While not a clinical trial, this study, in stark contrast to prevailing attitudes that views these drugs as harmful, speaks to the public health potential of psychedelic medicine,” Zach Walsh, PhD, of the University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada, said in a press release. “As existing treatments for intimate partner violence are insufficient, we need to take new perspectives such as this seriously... With proper dosage, set, and setting we might see even more profound effects. This definitely warrants further research.”

Zach Walsh

To assess the relationship between hallucinogen use and intimate partner violence (IPV), researchers evaluated 302 inmates at a U.S. county jail. Study participants had a mean age of 26.06 years and were serving a sentence of 1 year or less for felony or misdemeanor convictions. Hallucinogen use was assessed by interview at incarceration and IPV was determined by arrest for an offense related to IPV.

Overall, 33.44% of the cohort was arrested for IPV.

Lifetime use of hallucinogens was reported by 55.63% of study participants, of whom 86.9% reported using classic psychedelics including psilocybin, LSD and mescaline.

Bivariate Cox regression analysis indicated any lifetime use of hallucinogens was associated with lower rates of IPV. Approximately 26.79% of participants who used hallucinogens were arrested for later IPV, compared with 41.79% of those who reported no hallucinogen use.

This association remained when controlling for ethnicity, psychopathic personality and alcohol use disorder.

Presence of hallucinogen use disorder at the trend level was associated with lower IPV rates at the bivariate level. After controlling for alcohol use, psychopathy and ethnicity, 13.64% of participants with lifetime hallucinogen use disorder were arrested for IPV, compared with 35% of those with no lifetime hallucinogen use disorder.

“Although we're attempting to better understand how or why these substances may be beneficial, one explanation is that they can transform people's lives by providing profoundly meaningful spiritual experiences that highlight what matters most," study researcher Peter S. Hendricks, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in the release. “Often, people are struck by the realization that behaving with compassion and kindness toward others is high on the list of what matters.”

“The experiences of unity, positivity, and transcendence that characterize the psychedelic experience may be particularly beneficial to groups that are frequently marginalized and isolated, such as the incarcerated men who participated in this study,” Walsh added. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.