Race and ethnicity moderate the associations between lifetime psychedelic use (MDMAecstasy and psilocybin) and major depressive episodes.
Psychedelics are receiving renewed attention within Western medicine as they represent potential treatments for many difficult-to-treat mental health disorders. However, psychedelic science is limited in its focus and inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities. Hence, this study examines whether race and ethnicity moderate the associations that naturalistic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)ecstasy use and psilocybin use share with major depressive episodes (MDEs). Data for this project are from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005-2019). Participants were adults aged 18 years and older (unweighted Race and ethnicity significantly moderated the associations between MDMAecstasy use and psilocybin use and MDEs. For White participants, MDMAecstasy use and psilocybin use each were associated with lowered odds of all three MDE outcomes (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) range 0.82-0.92). For Hispanic participants, MDMAecstasy use and psilocybin use each conferred lowered odds of only a past year MDE (MDMAecstasy aOR 0.82 psilocybin aOR 0.79). For Non-Hispanic Racial Minority participants, MDMAecstasy and psilocybin use did not confer lowered odds of any MDE outcomes. Race and ethnicity have an impact on the associations that psychedelics share with mental health outcomes. Future research should explore the impact of identity and discrimination on the effects of psychedelics and should explore whether these substances can serve as effective treatments for minorities when used in culturally informed contexts.