Psychedelics have grown into a mainstream topic, with everyone from college students to parents in the pickup line chatting about the latest news. Psilocybin just made headlines in a study regarding chronic pain, and Veterans Affairs has its sights set on MDMA for treating PTSD in veterans. They have also proven valuable in helping people move through hard decisions or creative blocks.
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The ball is rolling for psychedelic destigmatization, and research continues supporting the growing ways that compounds may help society. One study sought to understand whether people with a lifetime of classical psychedelic use (LCPU) suffered psychological distress, and the results were intriguing. Apparently, being single has a secret benefit.
Before the breakdown, it’s important to note that there were limitations to this study. For example, analysts compared household size with mental health status without questioning relationships and experiences in the home. Also, there was no information about how people consumed classic psychedelics or the set and setting–and that wasn’t all. The study details all limitations, citing a need for more information across the board.
Limitations aside, this study shows an interesting trend. It turns out that one demographic of people who consume psychedelics may be happiest: single people.
Tripping while modestly uncoupled may be the move according to science. Analysts recently broke apart data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) collected between 2008 and 2019. The survey gauged attitudes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to understand how people are doing with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Psychedelic consumption and personal information were a part of the questioning, as were the average home size and marital status. Researchers honed in on the mental health of people who have consumed psychedelics in their lifetime to understand the impact tripping had in both the short and long term.
In the survey, respondents explained whether they had felt nervous, worthless, hopeless, restless, fidgety, depressed beyond cheering up, or that everything was hard in the last year. They also disclosed whether they consumed classic psychedelics in their lifetimes.
The data analysis included those who casually consumed classic psychedelics like LSD, peyote, psilocybin, and DMT. MDMA was also on the list as it may elicit a psychedelic experience, but technically, it isn’t a classic psychedelic like magic mushrooms. Overall, people with LCPU had better health, but those with varying marital status and household sizes had different responses.
According to the data, those who were married, divorced, or widowed were more distressed than the single respondents. Turns out, psychedelics can improve mental health, but it’s more effective for those who’ve never walked the line to legal matrimony. It also showed that the larger the household, the more malaise, LCPU or not.
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The study has its fair share of limitations regarding the collected data, but the perspective is worth exploring. According to the numbers, people who have a lifetime history of psychedelic consumption are in better health than those who haven’t. Unfortunately for those who have taken the plunge:
“Overall, results suggest that household size negatively impacts the association between LCPU and health, with those who are married, divorced, and widowed experiencing the worst outcomes,” the study concludes.
People take psychedelic journeys for many reasons. Despite the reason for your trip, set and setting are of the utmost importance to creating a positive experience. The married crowd with a big family should maybe pick a safe space outside the house to pop a mushroom cap or take a tab.
Cara Wietstock is senior content producer of GreenState.com and has been working in the cannabis space since 2011. She has covered the cannabis business beat for Ganjapreneur and The Spokesman Review. You can find her living in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, son, and a small zoo of pets.
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