The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 10, 2023 Jonina Rabinowitz, Raz Gross, Shaul Lev‐ran 15 citations
Past use of peyote or mescaline was associated with 32% lower odds of past-year substance dependence or abuse compared with people who had never used classic psychedelics, after controlling for sociodemographic factors, other illicit drug use, and mental health variables. In contrast, past use of LSD or psilocybin was associated with increased odds of substance use disorder, especially with more recent LSD use. No association was found between any classic psychedelic use and nicotine dependence. The authors suggest the difference may stem from pharmacological distinctions or the ceremonial context in which peyote or mescaline are traditionally taken.