Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2006
Michael Lerner, Michael Lyvers
99 citations
People who use psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin report stronger mystical beliefs (such as oneness with God and the universe), higher spirituality, and greater concern for others, along with lower value on financial prosperity, compared to users of other illegal drugs or social drinkers. These differences held across Israeli and Australian samples. Users of nonpsychedelic illegal drugs showed lower coping ability than both psychedelic users and non-drug users. Both illegal drug groups scored higher on empathy than non-users. The findings may reflect transformative effects of psychedelic experiences, but could also stem from pre-existing traits of those who choose to take psychedelics.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 1, 2012
Michael Lyvers, Molly Meester
97 citations
Even in today's recreational context, higher doses of LSD and psilocybin are linked to mystical experiences, while MDMA, cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and alcohol are not. A survey of 337 adults, mostly recruited through MAPS, found that use of LSD and psilocybin was positively related to scores on mystical experience indices in a dose-dependent manner, despite only a quarter reporting spiritual motives. MDMA use showed no such relationship. The findings suggest that full psychedelics at higher doses can still induce mystical states in many users.
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2006
Michael Lyvers
41 citations
The evidence for MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity in human recreational ecstasy users remains inconclusive. Inconsistent findings on persistent cognitive and serotonergic deficits, lack of clear links between brain imaging changes and functional impairments, and confounding effects of cannabis or other drug use complicate the picture. Methodological issues, including poor sample matching, questionable relevance of animal models, and potential pre-existing deficits in impulse control or serotonin systems that might predispose to drug use, further undermine conclusions. Because nearly all studies are retrospective, the controversy over whether MDMA causes neurotoxicity or cognitive harm in humans is unlikely to be resolved soon.