Evidence-based Scientific Research into Psychedelic Mushroom

Dr. David Nutt's 2010 study, published in The Lancet, titled "Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis," provides a comprehensive evaluation of the harms caused by various legal and illegal substances. This study is particularly notable for its systematic approach to quantifying the risks associated with different drugs, both in terms of harm to the individual user and harm to others.

Key Aspects of the Study

​

Methodology: Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)

​

The study employed a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach to assess 20 different drugs. This methodology allowed the researchers to evaluate each substance based on 16 distinct criteria, which were divided into two broad categories:

​

• Harm to the user (9 criteria):

  • Drug-specific mortality

  • Drug-related mortality

  • Drug-specific damage to physical health

  • Drug-related damage to physical health

  • Dependence

  • Drug-specific impairment of mental functioning

  • Drug-related impairment of mental functioning

  • Loss of tangibles (e.g., income, housing)

  • Loss of relationships

​

• Harm to others (7 criteria):

  • Injury

  • Crime

  • Environmental damage

  • Family adversities

  • International damage

  • Economic cost

  • Community

​

Each criterion was scored on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 represented the maximum possible harm in that category. The scores were then combined to produce an overall harm score for each substance.

​

Key Findings: Harm Scores

​

• Alcohol: Alcohol received the highest overall harm score of 72 out of 100, making it the most harmful substance when considering both individual and societal impacts. It scored particularly high in areas like crime, economic cost, and harm to others, reflecting its widespread use and significant social impact.

​

• Heroin: Heroin was ranked as the second most harmful drug with an overall harm score of 55 out of 100. It was particularly harmful to individual users due to its high potential for dependence, overdose risk, and health deterioration.

​

• Crack Cocaine: Crack cocaine followed closely with a score of 54 out of 100. Like heroin, it scored high in terms of dependence, physical harm, and its role in crime and social disruption.

​

• Tobacco: Tobacco, with a harm score of 26 out of 100, was recognized primarily for its high harm to users, particularly through long-term health consequences like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. The harms to others were lower compared to alcohol but still significant due to secondhand smoke.

​

• Cannabis: Cannabis had a relatively lower harm score of 20 out of 100. It was noted for its moderate impact on mental health, particularly in heavy or long-term users, but was seen as less harmful than alcohol and tobacco overall.

​

• Psychedelics (LSD and Psilocybin):

  • LSD: LSD received a harm score of 7 out of 100, making it one of the least harmful substances in the study. Its low score reflects its low toxicity, minimal risk of dependence, and relatively minor social harms.

  • Psilocybin Mushrooms: Psilocybin, often referred to as magic mushrooms, received an even lower harm score of 6 out of 100. Like LSD, psilocybin was recognized for its low risk of physical harm and addiction, with its primary risks being psychological and largely manageable in controlled environments.

​

Comparative Analysis: Numbers and Context

• Alcohol vs. Psychedelics:

  • Alcohol's Score: 72/100

  • LSD's Score: 7/100

  • Psilocybin's Score: 6/100

  • Interpretation: Alcohol was found to be over 10 times more harmful than LSD and 12 times more harmful than psilocybin when considering the combined harms to the individual and society.

​

• Tobacco vs. Psychedelics:

  • Tobacco's Score: 26/100

  • LSD's Score: 7/100

  • Psilocybin's Score: 6/100

  • Interpretation: Tobacco's harm score is about 3 to 4 times higher than that of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. This underscores the significant health risks posed by tobacco compared to the relatively low risks associated with psychedelics.

​

• Cannabis vs. Psychedelics:

  • Cannabis's Score: 20/100

  • LSD's Score: 7/100

  • Psilocybin's Score: 6/100

  • Interpretation: Even though cannabis is often perceived as a relatively safe drug, its harm score was still about three times higher than that of classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin.

The findings were eye-opening:

​

• Alcohol emerged as the most harmful substance overall, primarily due to its widespread use and the severe social and economic consequences associated with its abuse. It ranked highest in harm to others and significantly high in harm to the user.

• Heroin and crack cocaine were next in terms of harm, largely due to their high potential for addiction and the severe health risks they pose to users.

• Tobacco, often perceived as less harmful due to its legality, was also rated highly for harm, particularly due to the long-term health consequences and its high addiction potential.

​

In stark contrast to these substances, psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD were ranked much lower in terms of overall harm. Psilocybin, in particular, was noted for its low toxicity, low potential for addiction, and minimal harm to others. This finding is significant, as it challenges the longstanding stigmatization of psychedelics, which have been classified as Schedule I drugs in many countries, indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use—an assessment that Dr. Nutt’s research suggests is not supported by the evidence.

Comparing Psychedelics to Other Substances

​

1. Physical Safety:

   • Psychedelics: Psilocybin mushrooms are one of the least toxic substances, with an incredibly high safety margin. Fatal overdoses are virtually unheard of, and physical health risks are minimal, especially when compared to substances like alcohol, which is toxic to the liver and can be fatal in overdose.

   • Alcohol and Tobacco: Both substances are legal but pose significant health risks. Alcohol is associated with liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and a high risk of overdose. Tobacco is a leading cause of cancer, respiratory diseases, and heart disease.

2. Addiction Potential:

   • Psychedelics: Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics are not considered addictive. They do not produce physical dependence, and their psychological dependence potential is very low. Users typically do not seek out these substances compulsively, and the profound, often challenging nature of the psychedelic experience can deter frequent use.

   • Heroin and Cocaine: These substances have a high potential for addiction, with users quickly developing a dependence. The compulsive use of these drugs can lead to severe social, economic, and health consequences.

3. Mental Health and Long-Term Effects:

   • Psychedelics: Research has shown that psychedelics can have therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. Studies have found that psilocybin can lead to lasting positive changes in personality, such as increased openness and improved well-being, after just one or a few sessions. Adverse effects, such as challenging experiences (often referred to as "bad trips"), are typically transient and can be mitigated in controlled settings.

   • Alcohol and Tobacco: These substances are associated with long-term mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Chronic use of alcohol, for example, can lead to alcohol use disorder, which is difficult to treat and often leads to significant life disruption.

4. Social Impact:

   • Psychedelics: Because they are typically used in private or therapeutic settings, psychedelics have minimal negative social impact. In fact, their use in ceremonial or therapeutic contexts can enhance social bonds and foster a sense of community and interconnectedness.

   • Alcohol: Alcohol is a major contributor to social harm, including violence, crime, and accidents. It is involved in a significant percentage of domestic violence cases, assaults, and traffic accidents.

Implications and Impact of the Study

• Policy and Regulation: The study has significant implications for drug policy. It suggests that many substances that are currently legal (like alcohol and tobacco) are far more harmful than certain illegal substances, particularly psychedelics. This raises important questions about the rationale behind current drug laws and regulations.

• Public Perception: By providing a quantitative assessment of drug harms, the study challenges prevailing public perceptions about psychedelics, highlighting that these substances are among the least harmful, especially when used responsibly in controlled settings.

• Advocacy for Legalization: The study supports the case for reconsidering the legal status of psychedelics, particularly given their low harm scores compared to substances that are widely available and legal. It strengthens arguments for the medical, therapeutic, and even spiritual use of psychedelics under regulated conditions.

​

Conclusion

​

Dr. David Nutt’s study provides a robust, evidence-based assessment of the harms associated with various substances, illustrating that psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin are relatively safe compared to other legal substances like alcohol, tobacco, and even cannabis. The significant disparities in harm scores highlight the need for a more rational approach to drug policy, one that reflects the actual risks and benefits of each substance rather than historical biases or misconceptions.

​

Despite diligently researching and presenting the truth, Dr. Nutt faced significant backlash from institutions and individuals operating from lower levels of consciousness. As a pioneer in the field, Dr. Nutt paved the way for numerous studies that have since examined the profound effects of psychedelic mushrooms.