Association between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Sick Leave in a Population-Based Sample
Christin Mellner, Micael Dahlen, Otto Simonsson
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 9, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811353 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople who have ever used classic psychedelics (such as LSD or psilocybin) report slightly fewer sick days in the past month than those who have never used them, after accounting for demographics, risky behavior, and other substance use. The analysis of a large, nationally representative US sample (over 400,000 adults) found a small but statistically significant negative association. The authors caution that the finding is correlational and that more research is needed to determine whether psychedelics actually cause reduced sick leave and to understand possible mechanisms.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 407,717 |
| Population | US adults (representative sample from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2005–2019) |
| Topics | LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Health economics Public health Sickness absence Sickness absenteeism |
| Citations | 18 |
| Key finding | Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with fewer sick leave days in the past 30 days (B = −0.09, p < 0.01) after controlling for confounders. |
Abstract
Objectives: Absenteeism from work due to illness, and related costs, has increased steadily during the past decades. In recent years, there has been a reemergence of research on the therapeutic effects of classic psychedelics showing associations with both physical and mental health. However, the association between classic psychedelics and sick leave remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between lifetime classic psychedelic use and sick leave in the past 30 days among adults in the United States (N = 407,717), using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005–2019), weighted to be representative of the US adult population. Methods: The primary analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, risky behavior, and use of other substances. Results: There was a significant and negative association between lifetime classic psychedelic use and sick leave in the past 30 days (B = −0.09, p < 0.01) when adjusting for all control variables. Conclusion: These findings suggest that classic psychedelics could potentially lead to reduced sick leave and associated costs in the general population, but more research is needed to investigate potential causal pathways of classic psychedelics on sick leave and evaluate possible mechanisms.