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A new study has reinforced the conclusion a past study had already reached, that taking LSD and magic mushrooms won’t affect your mental health. The study was detailed in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
The first study was conducted by a team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Researchers analyzed data from 2001 to 2004 and concluded that there is no link between taking these types of drugs and the user developing mental disorders.
Another team led by clinical psychologist Pål-Ørjan Johansen analyzed a new set of data recorded between 2008 and 2011 and was also unable to find any evidence to prove that LSD and mushrooms could affect the user’s mental condition.
Researchers analyzed data recorded from 135,000 participants out of which 19,000 were LSD and mushrooms (or “shrooms”) consumers. They could not find a direct link between psychedelic drugs and “psychological distress, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts”.
Scientists did, however, notice that alcohol and other “controlled substances” can alter brain function. Study co-author Teri Krebs explained that alcohol is addictive compared to psychedelics that do not cause dependence.
Medical News Today reported that Johansen and Krebs had an ambitious plan to test the possibility of LSD being used as therapy for those addicted to alcohol.
According to Johansen, more than 30 million U.S. adult citizens have tried psychedelic drugs and that there is no data that could prove these drugs could affect the health of one’s brain. Krebs added that in general, people have said that these drugs were actually beneficial to their well-being.
Despite this, Johansen stressed the possibility of a negative experience after taking psychedelics. There are people who “respond negatively to the drugs” but that is not enough a reason for public health measures to be taken. Krebs stated that there are people who consider the prohibition of psychedelics as lacking to respect one’s right to free time activities.
Charles Grob, pediatric psychiatrist from the University of California, Los Angeles explained that there some people might experience side-effects after consuming these drugs, placing emphasis on the fact that one shouldn’t blindly trust the results of these two studies.
He gave examples of people who, after taking psychedelic drugs, experienced a series of disorders. One might have hallucinations in the form of colored dots or bright lights.
Image Source: Psychointegrator
