Article Figures & Data
Tables
Chemical Name Common or Slang Name Natural Sources 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine 5-MeO-DMT, the toad Yopo tree (Anadenanthera peregrina) seeds, skin exudate from the Sonoran desert toad (Bufo alvarius) Lysergic acid diethylamide LSD, acid Synthetically derived from ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea) N,N-dimethyltryptamine DMT, the spirit molecule Chacruna shrub (Psychotria viridis) and other plant species Mescaline Peyote Peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii), San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoii), Peruvian torch cactus (Echinopsis peruviana) Psilocybin Mushrooms, magic mushrooms, shrooms Psilocybe mushroom species From Reference 7.
Year of Casea Psychedelic Substance Involved Other Substances Involved Subject Description of Case 196219 LSD Unknown A 25-year-old woman with a history of multiple prior inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for emotional problems and prior diagnoses of psychopathic personality and alcohol addiction A woman with prior homicidal thoughts toward her victim was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital for four months and received four treatments of 50 μg LSD. She stabbed a young man to death 90 minutes after release from the hospital on the third day following her last LSD treatment. 196320 LSD Unknown A male psychologist A man took three doses of LSD and, at an unknown time thereafter, developed grandiose beliefs and threatened his wife with a gun. 196621 LSD Unknown A 32-year-old former medical student with a history of prior LSD and other hallucinogenic substance use A man with marital difficulties consumed a sugar cube containing LSD, went to his mother-in-law's house, and stabbed her to death. He reported amnesia for the event. He received a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. 196921 LSD Alcohol A 24-year-old man with a history of aggravated assault and alcohol abuse A man consumed alcohol and LSD. Approximately six hours after consuming LSD, he had an argument with someone and shot him. He was found guilty of first-degree murder. 196922 LSD Unknown A 37-year-old English man A man murdered an 18-year-old woman by blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxiation with a bed sheet in the context of an LSD trip when he thought he was descending to the center of the planet and being attacked by snakes. He was found guilty of manslaughter. 197023 LSD Possibly alcohol A 19-year-old man A man was acquitted of breaking and entering and attempted rape due to temporary insanity induced by consuming a drink containing LSD. No further details relating the timing of the LSD consumption and the alleged events were available. 197224 LSD Unknown A 22-year-old man with a history of cannabis, amphetamine, and LSD use and depression A man took LSD from a hitchhiker and developed fears that she intended to destroy his mind. He traveled from California to Massachusetts, then over the course of eight days to London, Paris, Athens, and Tel Aviv, where he stabbed a man with a knife because he feared the man was a Nazi bragging about killing Jews. He was found unfit to stand trial and deported back to the United States. 197325 LSD Cannabis, alcohol A 22-year-old man with a history of chronic cannabis, LSD, and methamphetamine use, who reported previously taking LSD more than 100 times without a negative experience A man met with his ex-girlfriend at her dormitory and stabbed her with a knife after smoking a marijuana cigarette, taking two LSD tablets of unknown doses, and drinking a glass of beer earlier in the day. He was briefly admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit and discharged with diagnoses of “drug dependence” and “unspecified personality disorder.” Three days after discharge, he shot and killed another girlfriend, reporting that he had smoked marijuana and taken an unknown amount of LSD two days before the murder. He was found “unfit to stand trial for reasons of insanity” and sent to a state hospital. 197326 LSD Alcohol A man with a history of LSD use A man stabbed a coworker to death after drinking alcohol and becoming “psychotic,” which the author inferred was due to an LSD-related flashback. 200527 LSD None A 26-year-old man A man suspected of involvement in an attempted homicide tested positive for LSD. No details regarding the subject or related events were provided. 200628 5-MeO-DIPT, 5-MeO-MIPT None A 22-year-old man with a history of mushroom and cannabis use and no prior negative experiences A man purchased three designer drugs from the internet. He took “Wild Game” and “Mipty” and developed persecutory fears. He killed his girlfriend with a kitchen knife. Police found him in a suburban neighborhood naked and confused. He subsequently reported amnesia for the event. ↵a If the year of the case is unknown, then the year of publication is provided.
LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide.
Name of Element Ask About Psychedelic substance use patterns First use of psychedelic substance(s) Different psychedelic substances used (e.g., LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, mescaline, DMT, etc.) Frequency of psychedelic use Dose(s) of psychedelic substances used Experiences during psychedelic intoxication “Set” elements Intentions or goals of psychedelic use Meaning ascribed to psychedelic use Relevant personality traits (e.g., openness, self-transcendence, impulsivity, irresponsibility) Knowledge of psychedelics, including therapeutic uses History of hallucinogen persisting perceptual disorder “Setting” elements Location(s) of psychedelic experiences (e.g., private versus public) Use of perceptual cues during psychedelic experiences (e.g., music, visual imagery, tactile stimuli) Concomitant substance use Presence of other individuals for guidance or emotional support during psychedelic experience History of using psychedelics in the setting of concomitant obligations Problematic use Using psychedelics more than intended or over a longer period than intended Excessive time spent obtaining or using psychedelics or recovering from use Using psychedelics despite failure to fulfill major role obligations Using psychedelics despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems related to use Giving up social, occupational, or recreational activities to use psychedelics Recurrent psychedelic use in hazardous situations Other elements to consider Problematic use of other substances History of legal problems related to psychedelic use or distribution History of antisocial or criminal behavior DMT, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine; LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide.
