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Hallucinogenic Drug Use and Personal Belief in Paranormal Phenomena

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Hallucinogenic Drug Use and Personal Belief in Paranormal Phenomena Hallucinogenic Drug Use and Personal Belief in Paranormal Phenomena MELISSA GARTHWAITE Use of marijuana has been linked to belief in extrasensory perception (ESP) and other paranormal phenomena. We examined the possibility that such acceptance University of Southern Maine is characteristic of users of other types of hallucinogens. We also explored accep- tance of other paranormal phenomena in relation to drug use. In Study 1, surveys JOE MIELE were distributed to university students; in Study 2, a snowball sample of acquain- tances was used to diversify the group surveyed. Results indicated there is no East Stroudsburg University significant relationship between use of serotonergic hallucinogens and acceptance of ESP. Furthermore, no link was observed between marijuana use and belief in JOHN BROIDA* ESP. Belief in other paranormal experiences, including telepathy and aura, was related to the use of hallucinogenic agents. Factors other than use of hallucino- University of Southern Maine genic agents may be more important in creating a belief in the paranormal. ELIEF IN THE PARANORMAL IS QUITE COMMON. each of which constituted a different set of space-time Approximately two thirds of the adults in the coordinates” (Blewett, 1963, p. 53). Another user in- BUnited States may believe in extrasensory per- dicated that “I became aware of awareness itself. ception (ESP), that is, in acquiring knowledge about But an escape was implied as well as anguish, since, information not obtained from the senses (“Polls In- in being liberated from the ego, consciousness was dicate,” 1987). Another study reported that 61% of able to perceive its unity with the world” (Parker, 1975, participants believed in the possibility of telepathy, p. 129). the ability to sense others’ thoughts, and 58% believed Van Asperen De Boer, Barkema, and Kappers in the possibility of precognition, the ability to fore- (1966) found that some individuals performed bet- tell the future (Clark, 1991). Neither of these studies ter on tests of extrasensory ability under psilocybin assessed drug use, a behavior that may predispose intoxication. However, these researchers did not as- people to accept the validity of paranormal phenom- sess belief in paranormal phenomenon. Leary, ena (Tart, 1993). Metzner, and Weil (1965) proposed that hallucino- Use of hallucinogenic agents may alter psychic genic drugs may act as a “key” to our nervous system, awareness and consciousness (Pahnke, 1966). Sero- unlocking otherwise unrealized abilities and experi- tonin-like hallucinogens, including lysergic acid di- ences, including the ability to experience and explore ethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and marijuana are paranormal phenomena and other aspects of mysti- linked to altered experiences of reality (Julien, 1995), cal consciousness. Pahnke and Richards (1969) noted even after these drugs are no longer present in the a similarity between mystical consciousness and psy- body (McKim, 1997). Specifically, LSD has often been chedelic experience, and suggested that the use of characterized as having a profound effect on aware- hallucinogenic drugs may be linked to belief in para- ness. For example, one user reported that “I was out- normal experience. side our dimensions of space and time and felt an Belief in ESP, precognition, telepathy, and aura understanding of infinity. My consciousness of (a changing field of colored light reflecting the emo- the universe was in terms of rapidly shifting images tional state or health of a person) are linked to use of 170 PSI CHI JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ! Winter 1998 Copyright 1998 by Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology (Vol. 3, No. 4, 170–174 / ISSN 1089 - 4136). *Faculty Supervisor PSYCHEDELICS AND ESP ! Garthwaite, Miele, and Broida hallucinogenic drugs (Tart, 1993). The following two (not objects), what people have called the ‘aura’” studies were conducted to determine if individuals (Tart, 1993, p. 156). who use marijuana or other hallucinogenic agents Tart’s (1993) original drug use survey of 14 ques- are more likely to believe in paranormal phenom- tions was adjusted to include questions about the use ena. If hallucinogenic drug use affects belief in para- of LSD and psilocybin. Marijuana use was assessed normal phenomena, then those individuals who have on a four-point scale from responses to the question used hallucinogens should be more likely to believe “How many times have you smoked marijuana?” and in ESP, precognition, telepathy, and auras than would LSD use was measured on a four-point scale from nonusers. responses to the question “How many times have you used LSD?” Psilocybin use was similarly assessed on a Study 1: College Student Surveys four-point scale from responses to the question “How Use of hallucinogens may change perception of many times have you used psilocybin (mushrooms)?” reality (Leary et al., 1965) and may make individuals Procedure. Students received questionnaires at more aware of their potential paranormal ability the end of a class period and returned them to their (Pahnke, 1966; Tart, 1993). This study was designed instructor during the next class period. They were to examine the relationship between drug use and told that this questionnaire packet consisted of a se- belief in paranormal phenomena. ries of surveys developed by various students to assess many characteristics and beliefs. The intent to explore Method the relationship between hallucinogenic drug use and Participants. Two hundred fifty-three students paranormal belief was not mentioned. Confidential- (178 women, 75 men) taking psychology classes at ity was assured by recording names of participants two northeastern universities received surveys in class. on a separate form as surveys were returned. Partici- The participants received extra credit for returning pants were encouraged to contact the researcher to the survey. obtain details about the intent and results of this study. Materials. A questionnaire concerning drug use and belief in paranormal phenomena was included Results and Discussion as part of a 28-page questionnaire examining effects Table 1 shows the percentages of inexperienced of parental alcoholism, familial dysfunction, and re- and experienced users (those participants who have lated sex differences. The portion of the survey rel- used a drug 12 or more times) of hallucinogenic evant to this study began with a paragraph assuring drugs. Only 6% were experienced users of LSD and confidentiality and was followed by separate measures 12% were experienced users of psilocybin. Forty-eight to assess drug use and belief in ESP (Tart, 1993). percent of the participants reported using marijuana Questions from Tart’s (1993) survey were used 12 or more times. to assess four elements of paranormal phenomena. The participants who had smoked marijuana at Belief in ESP was assessed on a three-point scale from least once were more likely to use: (a) psilocybin, "2(4, responses to the statement “I believe in the existence N = 238) = 80.0, p < .0001, and (b) LSD, "2(4, N = of extrasensory perception (ESP), i.e. , that people 237) = 65.0, p < .0001. Users of LSD were more likely can sometimes acquire knowledge about things hap- to use psilocybin, "2(4, N = 252) = 120.0, p < .0001. pening at a distance in time or space, or about other Thus, use of one drug was related to the likelihood people’s thoughts, when there is no possibility of this of using other drugs. knowledge having been acquired through the known Acceptance of ESP was related to: (a) belief in senses (sight, hearing, etc.)” (Tart, 1993, p. 154). telepathy, "2(4, N = 252) = 41.0, p < .0001, (b) belief Belief in telepathy was measured on a five-point scale from responses to the statement “I feel so aware of TABLE 1 what people are thinking that it must be telepathy, mind reading, rather than just being more sensitive Percentage of Participants in Study 1 to the subtle cues in their behavior” (Tart, 1993, p. Who Have Used Hallucinogens (N = 253) 154). Participants’ belief in precognition was assessed on a five-point scale from responses to the statement Marijuana LSD Psilocybin “I can foretell the future by some kind of precogni- Never used 30 77 76 tion, more than just predicting logically from present events” (Tart, 1993, p. 155). Belief in aura was mea- Some use 22 17 12 sured on a five-point scale from responses to the state- 12+ uses 48 6 12 ment “I see fringes of colored light around people PSI CHI JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ! Winter 1998 171 PSYCHEDELICS AND ESP ! Garthwaite, Miele, and Broida in precognition, "2(6, N = 253) = 43.0, p < .001, and TABLE 2 (c) belief in aura, "2(2, N = 252) = 13.0, p < .002. Belief in telepathy was significantly related to: (a) Percentage of “Strong Belief” in the Paranormal 2 belief in precognition, " (6, N = 252) = 110.0, p < in Relation to Drug Use in Study 1 (N = 253) .0001, and (b) belief in aura, "2(2, N = 252) = 16.0, p < .001. Acceptance of the possibility of precogni- Drug use Never Some Lots (12+) tion was related to belief in aura, "2(2, N = 252) = 10.0, p < .001. Thus, students who believed in one ESP element of the paranormal tended to accept other Marijuana 25 25 32 elements as well. LSD 25 36 38 As shown in Table 2, there was no relationship Psilocybin 27 23 37 between marijuana, LSD, or psilocybin use and be- Telepathy lief in ESP. Telepathy belief was related to LSD use, Marijuana 31 20 32 2 " (2, N = 251) = 13.0, p < .02, but no other drug use. LSD 23 38 56a A relationship was observed between psilocybin use Psilocybin 25 33 37 and belief in aura, "2(2, N = 252) = 6.5, p < .04, and between LSD use and belief in aura, "2(2, N = 251) = Precognition 9.7, p < .01. Marijuana 17 22 22 One possible explanation of our failure to find a LSD 18 19 43 relationship between use of hallucinogens and belief Psilocybin 17 19 33 in ESP is that the sample contained such a small num- Aura ber of users of these drugs.
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