Should police departments bust mushroom stores? This paper reviews 104 peer-reviewed studies to assess the public health impact of recreational psychedelic use. This is helpful for city councillors and police departments as NOT BUSTING mushroom / psychedelic stores can offer benefit to the community as violence and addictions are reduced and mental health is improved.
Title: Beyond Prohibition: A Public Health Analysis of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use
Authors: Mark Haden, Sarah A. Paschall, Birgitta Woods
Published in: Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2025)
Key Findings
Mental Health Benefits
- Associated with significant reductions in depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorders, interpersonal violence, and suicidality.
- Enhances emotional well-being, psychological flexibility, empathy, and social connectedness.
- May outperform traditional protective factors (e.g., family stability) in reducing criminal recidivism.
Well-Being and Personal Growth
- Users report greater mindfulness, reduced neuroticism, and enhanced emotional regulation, especially in ADHD, OCD, and trauma-affected populations.
- Strong association with spiritual experiences, personal insight, and nature connectedness, which may lead to pro-environmental behaviors.
- Linked to positive personality shifts (e.g., increased openness, decreased neuroticism).
Addiction and Violence Reduction
- Use is associated with lower rates of substance dependence, including alcohol, tobacco, opioids, and stimulants.
- Reductions in intimate partner violence and interpersonal aggression reported.
- Microdosing linked to improved mental health, creativity, and pain tolerance.
Physical Health and Functioning
- Psychedelic users report better overall health, including lower rates of obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.
- Reduced sick leave and improved outcomes in marginalized populations, older adults, and those with eating disorders or chronic pain.
Adverse Effects
- Minority of users report negative outcomes such as anxiety, confusion, or lingering psychological effects.
- Risk factors include: youth, high doses, poor set and setting, pre-existing mental health issues (especially bipolar or psychosis risk), and lack of experience.
- Despite challenges, most users still perceive benefits, even from difficult experiences.
Cultural Models & Harm Reduction
- Indigenous traditions emphasize set, setting, and dose—core pillars for safe use.
- Western policies lack these safeguards, relying instead on prohibition, which the authors argue causes more harm than the substances themselves.
- A public health approach—including education, safe access, and evidence-based regulation—is recommended.
Conclusions
- The benefits of naturalistic psychedelic use consistently outweigh the harms.
- Prohibitionist policies are outdated and unsupported by evidence.
- The paper calls for decriminalization, regulated access, and public education, drawing from both scientific findings and Indigenous harm-reduction models.
Sincerely,
Mark Haden
