Psychedelic Drugs Does Not Negatively Affect People's Mental Health: STUDY

A new study reveals that getting high on psychedelic drugs like LSD or psychoactive mushrooms does not heighten the risk of developing mental health issues.

The study has been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. In an earlier study, the scientists made efforts to find links between mental health problems and psychedelic drug use; however, they didn't reach any conclusion.

Neuroscientist Teri Krebs at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and clinical psychologist Pal-Orjan Johansen of EmmaSofia conducted this analysis.

According to Krebs, alcohol and other substances have higher chances of risks, and psychedelic drugs are not addictive like alcohol.

"With these robust findings, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure."

Krebs adds, "Concerns have been raised that the ban on use of psychedelics is a violation of the human rights to belief and spiritual practice, full development of the personality, and free-time and play."

While the study authors are not encouraging the illicit use of these substances, "these could be breakthrough medical treatments that we've been ignoring for the past 30 years," said study author Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkin.

"We need to carefully examine these cautiously and thoroughly. Our general societal impression of these drugs is they make people go crazy or are associated with psychological harm, but our data point to the potential psychological benefits from these drugs," he said.

The researchers found that on a number of measures, psychedelic drugs usage is correlated with fewer mental health problems and many people reported deeply meaningful experiences and lasting beneficial effects from using them.