Study Shows Psychedelic Users Experienced Less Stress During Pandemic Lockdowns

Curated and edited by Sechat, with information from Hightimes

A study on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health found that psychedelic users experienced less stress during the pandemic than those who did not use any substances. 

Before the pandemic, approximately 8.5% of American adults reported being depressed. But as the nation faced fear, lockdowns, and isolation associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, that number skyrocketed to 27.8%, according to data published last year. Professor Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, stated that the mental health impact caused by the pandemic is unprecedented.

“Depression in the general population after previous large-scale traumatic events has been observed to at most double,” he said after publishing research on the mental health aspects of the pandemic last year.

Anxiety levels also increased during the pandemic, with reports from researchers indicating a 14% rise in anxiety among residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Psychedelics and Depression

Another study showed that psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, have potential as treatments for mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and addiction. To determine whether the use of psychedelics affected the impact that the coronavirus pandemic had on mental health, researchers affiliated with organizations in the Netherlands, Spain, and Brazil conducted a study on how prior use of psychedelics affected mental health. The study was conducted from April to July of last year, when much of the world was under lockdown to help contain the spread of the virus.

The researchers conducted an online survey with 2,974 people, with most respondents living in Spain, Brazil, and the United States. Among the participants, 497 reported regularly using psychedelic substances, 606 were occasional users, and 1,968 said they had never used them. During the study period, most of the United States and Spain were in lockdown, although this was not the case in Brazil.

The survey asked participants about their use of psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, peyote, MDMA, ayahuasca, LSD, San Pedro, and 5-MeO-DMT, before and after the outbreak began, as well as information about the environments in which the substances were used. Study participants also answered a series of questionnaires regarding psychological distress, perceived social support, post-traumatic stress symptoms, psychological state, and personality measures.

“Psychedelic users, especially regular ones, reported less psychological distress, less peritraumatic stress, and more social support,” the study authors wrote .

Half of the participants who used psychedelics said that their prior use of the substances had a significant positive impact on their ability to cope with stress associated with the lockdowns. About one-third (35%) said that their prior use of psychedelics did not affect their coping ability, and 16% reported that their experience with the compounds had a small beneficial impact.

Psychedelic drug users also reported having more access to outdoor spaces, where they spent a significant amount of time. Regular users also reported more engagement in activities such as music, meditation, yoga, and Pilates, while those who did not use psychedelics said they spent more time doing aerobic exercise, playing video games, and watching television, movies, and news coverage related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Regular users were also less likely to follow suggested public health measures, such as wearing face masks and gloves. In personality tests, individuals who reported using psychedelics scored higher on scales for novelty-seeking and self-transcendence, and lower for agreeableness.

Correlation or Causation?

The study also revealed other consequences of the pandemic that may impact mental health. Almost one-fifth of participants reported losing their jobs, while nearly half said their income had decreased during the outbreak.

The researchers wrote that while psychedelic users reported experiencing less stress during the pandemic, it is unclear whether the drugs are responsible for the difference. They called for continued research, noting that other factors, including greater access to outdoor spaces, healthier eating habits, and spending less time watching or listening to news about the pandemic, may also impact mental health.

“Our results showed that regular psychedelic users had less psychological stress and some personality differences compared to occasional users and non-users,” the study authors concluded. “This suggests that the use of these substances may be a protective factor in itself or that people with certain pre-existing characteristics are more likely to use psychedelics frequently.”

An article on the research, "Cross-sectional Associations Between Psychedelic Drug Use and Psychometric Measures During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Cultural Study," was published online by the specialized journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.