Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study

Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study. 
Johansen PØ, Krebs TS.
J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):270-9. Epub 2015 Mar 5.
PMID: 25744618 (PDF)
Cited by (Google Scholar)

This new article from the Journal of Psychopharmacology (5 March 2015) has the following points of interest beginning with the abstract:
Abstract
A recent large population study of 130,000 adults in the United States failed to find evidence for a link between psychedelic use (lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin or mescaline) and mental health problems. Using a new data set consisting of 135,095 randomly selected United States adults, including 19,299 psychedelic users, we examine the associations between psychedelic use and mental health. After adjusting for sociodemographics, other drug use and childhood depression, we found no significant associations between lifetime use of psychedelics and increased likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, mental health treatment, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans and suicide attempt, depression and anxiety. We failed to find evidence that psychedelic use is an independent risk factor for mental health problems. Psychedelics are not known to harm the brain or other body organs or to cause addiction or compulsive use; serious adverse events involving psychedelics are extremely rare. Overall, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure.

A similar 2013 study published in PLoS One by the same authors found the 'associations between psilocybin use and lower likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, inpatient mental health treatment and psychiatric medication prescription were statistically significant both in this study (aOR 0.9, p = 0.007; aOR 0.7, p = 0.0004; aOR 0.8, p = 0.002, respectively) and in our previous study (aOR 0.8, p = 0.009; aOR 0.8, p = 0.04; aOR 0.8, p = 0.00008, respectively)' (Krebs and Johansen, 2013b (PDF)).

The studies authors have been quoted as saying “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” (National Monitor March 8, 2015).

It is deeply troubling to read an interview with John Ehrlichman, advisor to US President Richard Nixon, in which he explains that the War on Drugs was not to protect the American public but was ‘really about’ hurting ‘the antiwar Left, and black people’, and openly admits, ‘Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did’ (Baum, 2012).

Finally, below is a chart showing the Active/Lethal Dose Ratio and Dependence Potential of Psychoactive Drugs. Data source is Gable, R. S. (2006). Acute toxicity of drugs versus regulatory status. In J. M. Fish (Ed.), Drugs and Society: U.S. Public Policy, pp.149-162, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Notice how psilocybin appears as the least harmful on this graph, much less than tobacco or alcohol which are not illegal and are seen in advertisements across the United States. It has been know for some time that psilocybin is less toxic than caffeine. Currently psilocybin is classified as a Schedule 1 drug (high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision) while more harmful substances get off with a less restrictive Schedule or none at all. Incidentally, psilocybin is showing promise in the treatment of PTSD, suicidal behavior, addictions, depression, anxiety, OCD, and existential distress in cancer patients.