Substance use predictors of arrest and self-reported criminal behavior in the United States: The role of psychedelics and rarely used drugs

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Little research investigates the role of rarely used drugs in criminal offending. Moreover, given research suggesting that psychedelics reduce criminal offending, more research is needed to further document connections between psychedelics and crime. Aim: This study examines the role of rarely used drugs in criminal behavior and extends previous research on psychedelics by incorporating additional substance use measures, including youth respondents, and analyzing self-reported crime as well as arrests. Methods: Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2014–2023) ( n = 544,740), a nationally representative US survey, logistic regressions were performed testing whether substance use measures predicted arrest for various offenses and self-reported crimes after controlling for multiple covariates. Results: Use of phencyclidine (PCP), a rarely used drug, was strongly associated with arrest for serious violent offenses, assault, and sex offenses, and with attacking three or more people. Another rarely used substance, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), was associated with arrest for several offenses. Among psychedelics, psilocybin was associated with reduced odds of several offenses, while DMT/AMT/Foxy and peyote were associated with increased odds. LSD and Salvia divinorum were associated with increased odds of some offenses but decreased odds of others. For minors, psychedelics were mainly associated with increased odds of arrest, as protective effects were almost entirely absent. Psychedelics were associated with reduced odds of arrest for whites far more than for minorities. Conclusions: PCP use was strongly associated with violent offending. This study’s mixed findings on psychedelics indicate a need for further research to clarify causal connections between psychedelics and crime-related outcomes.