Hallucinogen use and intimate partner violence: Prospective evidence consistent with protective effects among men with histories of problematic substance use
Zach Walsh1⇑
Peter S Hendricks2
Stephanie Smith3
David S Kosson3
Michelle S Thiessen1
Philippe Lucas4
Marc T Swogger5
1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
2School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
3Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA
4Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
5University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Zach Walsh, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia 3333 University Way, Kelowna, V1V 1V7, Canada. Email: XXX{at}ubc.ca
Abstract
Evidence suggests that hallucinogens may have therapeutic potential for addressing a variety of problem behaviors related to the externalizing spectrum of psychopathology, such as substance misuse and criminality. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent form of criminal violence that is related to externalizing pathology. However, the association between hallucinogen use and IPV has not been comprehensively examined. In this prospective study, we examined the association between IPV and naturalistic hallucinogen use among 302 inmates at a US county jail. Cox regression analyses indicated that hallucinogen use predicted reduced arrest for IPV independently (β=−0.54, SE=0.20, χ2=7.19, exp(B)=0.58, p<0.01) and after accounting for covariates (β=−0.48, SE=0.23, χ2=4.44, exp(B)=0.62, p<0.05). These results add to a growing literature suggesting distinct therapeutic potential for hallucinogens to assist in the attenuation of problematic behavior.