Maria Balaet - Effects of psychedelics on the brain...before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Psychological and cognitive data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals shifting trends in recreational drug use. Contrary to initial hypotheses of a universal upswing in drug consumption during global lockdowns, data indicates that the majority of participants reduced or ceased substance use, with a notable shift in frequency among semi-frequent users. Psychometric assessments highlight nuanced associations between specific substance use patterns and mental health indicators such as apathy, anxiety, and depression. Psychedelic use in naturalistic settings is explored through longitudinal cognitive testing, revealing varied impacts on performance. While some psychedelic users exhibited improved performance on linguistic tasks like word definitions, overall data underscores the importance of accounting for confounding factors like polysubstance use in non-clinical research. The findings ultimately highlight the role of rigorous scientific methodology in navigating the complex landscape of psychedelic effects and advocating for harm reduction practices based on empirical evidence.