Alternative beliefs in psychedelic drug users
Scientific Reports September 30, 2023 Alexander V. Lebedev, Kasim Acar, Otilia Horntvedt et al. 9 citations
People who have used psychedelics are moderately more likely to endorse alternative facts and to believe that facts are politically influenced, compared with people who have never used them. This association held after accounting for demographics, psychiatric conditions, and other drug use. No link was found between psychedelic use and preferring intuition over evidence when verifying facts. Among other drugs examined, only alcohol showed a negative association with belief in alternative facts. The findings suggest that psychedelic use correlates with non-conformist thinking styles, which may stem from the drugs' psychological effects or from a shared trait predisposing people to unconventional beliefs and illicit substance use.