People who had an emergency department visit involving hallucinogen use were more likely to be diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder within three years compared with the general population (3.99% vs 0.15%). After accounting for other substance use and mental health conditions, the risk remained elevated: they were about 3.5 times as likely as the general population, 4.7 times as likely as those with an alcohol-related ED visit, and 1.5 times as likely as those with a cannabis-related ED visit. The rate of hallucinogen-related ED visits rose 86% between 2013 and 2021.
Psychedelic-assisted therapies show clinical promise for reducing depression and anxiety in patients with life-limiting illness, but most protocols reflect Euro-American values. Using Chinese palliative care as an example, the commentary argues that cultural factors such as family-centered decision-making, spiritual beliefs, and stigma will shape how these therapies work in different settings. Cultural humility—ongoing self-reflection, sensitivity to power dynamics, and openness to diverse worldviews—is essential for psychedelic therapy, where patient experiences depend on context and meaning-making. Efficacy is not solely biochemical but also cultural; addressing this translational gap requires humility toward how situated beliefs, norms, and practices interact with psychedelic pharmacology.