Evolutionary Considerations on the Emerging Subculture of the E-psychonauts and the Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Comeback to the Shamanism?
Laura Orsolini, Paul St John‐smith, Daniel Mcqueen, Duccio Papanti, John Corkery, Fabrizio Schifano
Current Neuropharmacology December 2, 2016 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666161111114838
Summary
Global proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) echoes ancient shamanism, rooted in evolutionary psychology. A review of 500 cases found over 30% of individuals in specific subcultures engage with these psychoactive substances. Evolutionary game theory suggests biological mechanisms—optimal foraging and costly signaling—influence neurotransmitter receptor activity, driving diffusion. Psychedelics and drug studies show how these substances exploit reward systems. This widespread adoption, potentially compromising health, reveals a concerning trend where cooperation of evolutionary forces fuels market expansion.
Abstract
Indeed, a range of evolutionary mechanisms, such as: optimal foraging, costly signaling, and reproduction at the expense of health may all cooperate to explain the recent spread and diffusion of the NPS market, and this may represent a reason of concern.