Lifetime classic psychedelics use is associated with positive environmental attitudes and adopting a vegetarian diet
Lifetime psychedelic use is associated with a vegetarian style of eating
In this large observational, retrospective cohort analysis ~21,800 participants from the 1958 National Child Development Study and 1970 British Cohort Study were analysed to examine associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use, environmental attitudes and dietary behaviour.
Lifetime psilocybin or LSD use was associated with more pro-environmental attitudes (small association, r = .09).
Psychedelic use was associated with higher odds of following a vegetarian diet (adjusted OR approximately 1.44–1.48).
Previous psilocybin users reported more salads and raw vegetables and less red meat, alongside fewer biscuits and cakes.
Pro-environmental attitudes statistically mediated part of the association between psychedelic use and vegetarianism.
The findings suggest a possible relationship between psychedelic use, environmental values and dietary behaviour.
Abstract
While some studies suggest that psychedelic use may be linked to positive environmental attitudes and health behaviors, the relationship between these factors remains underexplored. This study investigates the associations between lifetime use of psilocybin and LSD, environmental attitudes, and dietary behaviors using data from two UK birth cohort studies: the 1958 National Child Development Study and the 1970 British Cohort Study. Data on these variables were collected in 2000, when participants were aged 42 and 30, respectively (N = 21,837−21,855). F
indings indicate that individuals who had used psilocybin or LSD at least once in their lifetime were more likely to endorse pro-environmental attitudes (Spearman r = .09, p < .001) and adopt a vegetarian diet (adjusted OR 1.44–1.48, p < .013). Past psilocybin users show a healthier dietary profile, including eating more salads and raw vegetables, fewer biscuits and cakes, and less red meat. As hypothesized, the link between psychedelic use and vegetarian diets was partially mediated by pro-environmental attitudes.
The results of this retrospective observational study suggest that psilocybin and LSD use may promote positive environmental attitudes, which could, in turn, be associated with a greater likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet.
Teixeira, P.J., Cherniak, A.D. & Forstmann, M. Lifetime classic psychedelics use is associated with positive environmental attitudes and adopting a vegetarian diet. Sci Rep (2026). Read Paper
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