Could taking LSD or ecstasy help victims of racism?

PSYCHEDELIC drugs can help victims of racism deal with trauma related to their experiences, a study suggests.

It found a single dose of LSD, ecstasy or psilocybin – known as ‘magic mushrooms’ – was enough to provide relief.

The researchers suggested psychedelic drugs could also help reduce stress, depression and anxiety in black and ethnic minority groups whose experiences of racism had lasting harmful effects.

The study was based on 313 in the US and Canada who reported that they had taken a dose of a psychedelic drug in the past that they believed had contributed to ‘relief from the challenging effects of racial discrimination’.

Their experiences ranged from unfair treatment by neighbours to physical violence. The most common issues afterwards involved anger and wanting to ‘tell someone off’ for racist behaviour but deciding to say nothing.

All participants reported that their trauma-related symptoms linked to racist acts were lowered in the 30 days after using a psychedelic drug.

Many who take such chemicals report mystical or insightful experiences and the study found it was these effects that gave the reported benefits.

Co-lead study author Dr Monnica Williams, of the University of Ottawa in Canada, said: ‘This study shows psychedelics can be an important avenue for healing.’

Researchers noted that the work – published online by the journal Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy – had limitations because the findings were based on participant recall of experiences up to ten years before the study in some cases.