Psychedelics Use and the Risk of Reduced Formal Mental Health Care
Summary
Psychedelic users are less likely to seek formal mental health care, even when experiencing high levels of psychological distress. This study analyzed data from 458,372 individuals and found that the use of psychedelics is associated with a decreased likelihood of using mental health medications and outpatient treatment. The trend suggests a potential risk of self-medication among those who use these substances as they become more culturally accepted.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 458,372 |
| Population | individuals from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2010 to 2018 |
| Key finding | Psychedelic users are less likely to use formal mental health care services compared to non-users, even during periods of high distress. |
Abstract
Abstract Background: Due to increasing cultural and legal acceptance of psychedelics, there is a need to understand their potential influence on formal mental health care. This paper examines the connection between psychedelics, distress, and treatment utilization. Are psychedelic users less likely to use formal mental health care? Methods This study tests the relationship between psychedelics use (MDMA, Psilocybin, DMT, Ayahuasca, Peyote/Mescaline, and LSD) on stigma, psychological distress (K6), and formal mental health care use (medication, outpatient, and any use). This project also tests the impact of one measure of classic psychedelics (LCPU) use on distress and care. This project uses pooled data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2010 to 2018) (N=458,372). Results The analysis involved conducting a series of nested logistic regression models in Stata 18. The results provided evidence of an independent association between psychedelics use and a decreased likelihood of using mental health medication, outpatient treatment, and any formal mental health care. Additionally, the interaction terms revealed that as distress levels increase, psychedelics users are even less inclined to seek formal mental health care compared to non-psychedelic users. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest psychedelic users are less likely to use formal mental health care, even when they are particularly distress, indicating a heightened societal risk of self-medication as these drugs become more widely available.