Worth also reading the intro section of the first paper for more references:
Over 30 million people living in the US have used lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and mescaline (peyote and other cacti) [4]. Common reasons for using psychedelics include mystical experiences, curiosity, and introspection [5]. The classical serotonergic psychedelics are not known to cause damage to the brain or other organs of the body, or cause withdrawal symptoms, elicit addiction or compulsive use [3], or cause birth defects or genetic damage [6]. Psychedelics often elicit deeply personally and spiritually meaningful experiences and sustained beneficial effects [7]–[12]. Psychedelics can often cause period of confusion and emotional turmoil during the immediate drug effects [13] and infrequently such adverse effects last for a few days after use. Psychedelics are not regarded to elicit violence [14] and dangerous behavior leading to suicide or accidental death under the influence of psychedelics is regarded as extremely rare [15]. LSD and psilocybin are consistently ranked in expert assessments as causing less harm to both individual users and society than alcohol, tobacco, and most other common recreational drugs [16]–[19]. Given that millions of doses of psychedelics have been consumed every year for over 40 years, well-documented case reports of long-term mental health problems following use of these substances are rare. Controlled studies have not suggested that use of psychedelics lead to long-term mental health problems [8], [9], [13], [20].
I’m under the impression that this kind of summary is a reasonably fair characterization of the prevailing view among researchers.
[Edited to add:] I should probably clarify that I’m definitely not saying that psychedelics would be entirely safe or risk-free, especially not when used by a population that seems to have additional risk factors that are overrepresented relative to the general population. I was just pointing out that some of the more hyperbolic statements of “100/101 persons who try psychedelics fuck up their lives” were a bit, well, hyperbolic. If you’re considering using, do at least get familiar with the risks and follow responsible use protocols (e.g. 1, 2).
I was just pointing out that some of the more hyperbolic statements of “100/101 persons who try psychedelics fuck up their lives” were a bit, well, hyperbolic.
I read Viliam as at least implying it, or some comparable ratio.
I think the long-term effects of LSD and other drugs are documented sufficiently. It’s just, if there are 100 boring statistics about people who fucked up their lives, and 1 exciting speculative book by Timothy Leary, everyone will talk about the latter.
I don’t think Viliam believes that everyone who takes LSD has a major effect and either fucks up their lives or has an impact comparable to Timothy Leary.
Alright, I’ll copy the evidence for psychedelics being safe:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/back-to-the-future-psychedelic-drugs-in-psychiatry-202106222508
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747247/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881114568039
Marijuana is not what people intend when they say “psychedelics.” For other readers who are confused: these links seem to be about LSD and psilocybin.
Alright, I’ll edit that to say psychedelics.
Worth also reading the intro section of the first paper for more references:
I’m under the impression that this kind of summary is a reasonably fair characterization of the prevailing view among researchers.
[Edited to add:] I should probably clarify that I’m definitely not saying that psychedelics would be entirely safe or risk-free, especially not when used by a population that seems to have additional risk factors that are overrepresented relative to the general population. I was just pointing out that some of the more hyperbolic statements of “100/101 persons who try psychedelics fuck up their lives” were a bit, well, hyperbolic. If you’re considering using, do at least get familiar with the risks and follow responsible use protocols (e.g. 1, 2).
Who made that claim?
I read Viliam as at least implying it, or some comparable ratio.
I don’t think Viliam believes that everyone who takes LSD has a major effect and either fucks up their lives or has an impact comparable to Timothy Leary.