Hallucinogen use and intimate partner violence: Prospective evidence consistent with protective effects among men with histories of problematic substance use

Introduction

Hallucinogens — a heterogeneous class that includes classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin as well as other substances like MDMA, ketamine, and DMT-containing preparations — are receiving renewed scientific attention for potential therapeutic effects on a range of psychological and behavioural problems. Previous work, including early clinical reports and more recent naturalistic and pilot studies, has suggested that hallucinogen experiences can produce lasting personality and behavioural change, and some large prospective work has linked hallucinogen use to reduced criminal recidivism. At the same time, the literature is inconsistent: some studies find no effect or even elevated risk, and findings vary across substances, populations, and outcome measures. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common and serious form of interpersonal violence that is related to externalising psychopathology and to substance use, yet the relationship between hallucinogen use and IPV has not been comprehensively evaluated. Walsh and colleagues set out to address this gap by conducting the first prospective examination of whether prior naturalistic hallucinogen use predicts subsequent arrest for IPV among a high‑risk sample of incarcerated men with lifetime substance use disorders. The primary hypothesis was that any lifetime hallucinogen use would be associated with a reduced likelihood of post‑release IPV arrest; a secondary, more conservative analysis examined presence of a DSM‑IV hallucinogen use disorder as an alternate index of exposure. The study tests these associations while considering established covariates such as psychopathy, problematic alcohol use, and ethnicity.