People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy December 10, 2020 Monnica T. Williams, Alan K. Davis, Yitong Xin et al. 100 citations
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA may reduce symptoms of racial trauma among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) after a racist experience. In a cross-sectional survey of 313 diverse BIPOC in the US and Canada, participants retrospectively reported mental health symptoms 30 days before and 30 days after using a psychedelic. Analysis showed significant decreases in traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and stress following the experience. A strong positive relationship emerged between acute psychedelic effects (mystical-type, insight, and challenging experiences) and reductions in psychopathology, even after controlling for prior discrimination and time since the experience. The findings suggest psychedelics could lessen the negative impact of racial trauma, though further research on psychedelic-assisted therapy for race-based trauma is needed.