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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

 

See attached

 

 

Journal of Psychedelic Studies

Beyond prohibition: A public health analysis of naturalistic psychedelic use

 

MARK HADEN, SARAH A. PASCHALL and BIRGITTA WOODS

Published July 2025

 

ABSTRACT

Psychedelic drug use is experiencing a global resurgence, both in clinical research and community

settings. This paper presents a comprehensive public health analysis of the naturalistic use of

psychedelics—defined as use outside clinical or research environments. Drawing on a review of 104

peer-reviewed articles, this analysis evaluates the mental, physical, and social outcomes associated with

substances such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, mescaline, and 5-MeO-DMT. Findings indicate that

naturalistic psychedelic use is associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use

disorders, interpersonal violence, and suicidality, while enhancing emotional well-being, social

connectedness, spirituality, nature relatedness, psychological flexibility and physical health. These

benefits are observed across diverse populations in many countries, including individuals with trauma,

addictions, and chronic pain, as well as in older adults and marginalized groups. Importantly, while

adverse effects can occur, they are typically short-lived and often associated with identifiable risk factors

such as youth, high doses, psychological vulnerability, and poor set and setting. Drawing on harm

reduction principles and Indigenous cultural models, the paper outlines how public education and safe

use guidelines—emphasizing mindset, environment, and dosage—can mitigate risks. The data suggest

that current prohibitionist drug policies are both outdated and harmful and that a shift toward legalization,

regulated access, and evidence-informed education is not only justified but urgently needed.

A public health approach to psychedelics, one grounded in safety, inclusion, and scientific evidence,

offers the most rational path forward.

 

Sincerely,

Mark Haden