Substance use predictors of arrest and self-reported criminal behavior in the United States: The role of psychedelics and rarely used drugs
Journal of Psychopharmacology April 16, 2026 Jesse J. Norris 1 citation
Using data from a large US survey (2014–2023, 544,740 respondents), the study examined links between rarely used drugs and criminal behavior. Phencyclidine (PCP) use was strongly associated with arrest for serious violent offenses, assault, and sex offenses, and with attacking three or more people. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) was linked to arrest for several offenses. Among psychedelics, psilocybin was associated with reduced odds of several offenses, while DMT/AMT/Foxy and peyote were linked to increased odds. LSD and Salvia divinorum showed mixed associations. Protective effects of psychedelics were largely absent for minors and were stronger for whites than for minorities. The mixed findings highlight the need for further research on causal connections between psychedelics and crime.