Cancer causes & control : CCC
April 22, 2026
Amrit Baral, Yue Pan, Wayway M Hlaing et al.
Among U.S. adults aged 50 and older, lifetime cannabis use was similar for cancer survivors (41.6%) and those without cancer (42.6%) between 2015 and 2019, while lifetime use of classic psychedelics like LSD (8.9% vs. 10.3%) and psilocybin (6.4% vs. 7.7%) was slightly lower among survivors. Co-use of both cannabis and classic psychedelics was also lower in survivors (11.2%) than in those without cancer (12.6%). By 2021-2022, these group differences were no longer statistically significant. Prevalence varied by cancer type, with highest co-use among survivors of head and neck, cervical, and hepatobiliary/pancreatic cancers. Substance use patterns among cancer survivors are not uniform and differ across subgroups.
Scientific Reports
December 8, 2025
Amrit Baral, Yue Pan, Wayway M. Hlaing et al.
Among older U.S. men, those who reported lifetime use of classic psychedelics alone had more than two and a half times the odds of a prostate cancer diagnosis compared with non-users, after adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors. In men aged 65 or older, the odds were more than three and a half times higher. The analysis used nationally representative survey data from 2015–2019, covering 19,460 men aged 50 and older. Cannabis-only use and co-use of cannabis and psychedelics did not show a significant association. The authors suggest further research is needed to understand possible reasons and biological mechanisms behind this link.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
June 1, 2024
Amrit Baral, Yue Pan, Alberto J. Caban Martinez et al.
Among a large US-representative sample of adults, 14% reported lifetime use of classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, or peyote). Use was lowest among those with a past cancer diagnosis (12.3%) compared to those recently diagnosed (14.0%) or with no cancer history (14.1%). Each psychedelic was used more often by recently diagnosed than past-diagnosed adults. Among 18-to-34-year-olds, recent cancer patients had about 3.5 times higher odds of peyote use than those without cancer. In adults aged 50 or older, past cancer diagnosis was linked to 21% lower odds of peyote use. The findings suggest patterns of psychedelic use differ by cancer history and age, though the study cannot determine whether use preceded or followed diagnosis.