Religion and psychedelics weaken link between risky behavior and violence

A recent study provides evidence that the link between risky behaviors and violence is weaker among the highly religious and those reporting lifetime use of psychedelics. These findings were published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.

Classic psychedelics are substances that act on serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered states of consciousness and intense visual and auditory hallucinations. These substances include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), mescaline (from the peyote cactus), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Historically, classic psychedelics have been used both recreationally and in traditional spiritual or shamanic practices. Today, most of them are considered illicit drugs, and their possession is strictly prohibited in many places.

Despite their legal status, recent research has explored the potential therapeutic benefits of classic psychedelics for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The results are promising, but the relationship between psychedelic use and behavioral changes is less well understood. Some researchers believe psychedelics can positively affect mood, while others suggest social and cultural factors surrounding their use play a crucial role, with religion being one such factor.

Study author Sean M. Viña sought to determine whether psychedelics use directly impacts behavior or if religious participation and beliefs influence behaviors. Specifically, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between religiosity, psychedelic use, and recent violent behavior.

The researchers analyzed data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, which annually surveys all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to measure the prevalence of substance use and mental health issues. This analysis included responses from 282,768 participants.

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The study examined responses to questions about the number of times respondents had attacked someone with serious intent to harm in the past year, their lifetime use of classic psychedelics, religious attendance (frequency of attending religious services), and religiosity (importance of religious beliefs and their influence on life). Risky behavior was gauged using respondents’ enjoyment of dangerous activities and their tendency to engage in risky behaviors.

The results revealed that individuals who had used psychedelics at least once in their lives reported a higher number of assaults in the previous year and tended to be less religious. However, when accounting for various other factors, those with lifetime psychedelic use were actually less likely to have committed assault. Greater religiosity and frequent religious attendance were also associated with a lower likelihood of committing assault.

Individuals who engaged in more risky behaviors were more likely to have assaulted someone, but this link was weaker among highly religious individuals, and weakest among those who were both highly religious and had used psychedelics at least once.

“These results show that religious factors can influence the relationship between psychedelic use and behaviors, with both attendance and salience operating simultaneously,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the links between proneness to violence, religiosity and the use of classic psychedelics. However, it is important to note that reports of assault were rare among study participants, and the study’s design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn.

The study, “Religion, Psychedelics, Risky Behavior, and Violence,” was authored by Sean M. Viña.