0391 Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychedelic Use and Sleep Satisfaction: Preliminary Findings from the Herbal Heart Study

Among 18-to-35-year-olds in the Herbal Heart Study, 39.5% reported lifetime psychedelic use and 32.8% reported psilocybin use. Overall, 54.5% were satisfied with sleep, 23.0% dissatisfied, and 22.5% neutral, with no differences in sleep satisfaction across the full sample. However, among Hispanic/Latino participants, 33.9% of psychedelic consumers reported sleep dissatisfaction versus 17.2% of non-consumers. Hispanic/Latino psychedelic consumers had 4.4 times higher odds of both sleep dissatisfaction and satisfaction compared to being neutral; psilocybin-alone consumers had 9.2 times higher odds of dissatisfaction. No associations appeared among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or other groups, suggesting a complex link specific to Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Research on psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction remains unclear despite increased use. This study examines the psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction among 18-to-35-year-olds enrolled in the Herbal Heart Study. Methods The exposure variables were lifetime self-reported use of any psychedelic (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, ayahuasca/DMT) and psilocybin-alone. Sleep satisfaction was assessed via the WHO Quality of Life, “How satisfied are you with your sleep” (satisfied, dissatisfied, or neutral). Chi-squared tests compared psychedelic use across sleep satisfaction categories. Multinomial logistic regression adjusted for demographics, cannabis history, anxiety, and depression assessed associations between psychedelics and sleep satisfaction using “neutral” as the reference. Results Of the sample (N=200; mean age: 25.2 years, SD = 4.8), 65% were female, 54.5% identified as Hispanic/Latino, 18.5% non-Hispanic White (NHW), 17.5% non-Hispanic Black (NHB). Psychedelic use was reported by 39.5% of participants (49.5% Hispanics/Latinos, 21.6% NHW, 25.1% NHB, 42.1% Other p< 0.01); 32.8% of participants reported psilocybin use (40.8% Hispanics/Latinos, 19.4% NHW, 18.7% NHB, 28.9% Other; p=0.03). Overall, 54.5% of participants were satisfied with sleep, 23.0% were dissatisfied, and 22.5% neutral. No differences in sleep satisfaction were observed in the overall sample; however, race/ethnic differences emerged. Among Hispanics/Latinos, 33.9% of psychedelic consumers reported sleep dissatisfaction vs 17.2% of non-consumers (p=0.03). Similarly, 41.9% of Hispanic/Latino psilocybin-alone users reported sleep dissatisfaction vs 15.6% of non-consumers (p=0.005). Hispanic/Latino psychedelic consumers had higher odds of sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 4.4; 95% CI: 1.1-18.1) and satisfaction (AOR: 4.4; 95% CI: 1.2-14.7) compared to being neutral. Psilocybin-alone consumers had higher odds of sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 9.2; 95% CI: 1.9-43.9) than non-consumers. There were no associations among NHW/NHB/Other groups. Conclusion Findings indicate a complex association between psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction, particularly among Hispanics/Latinos. Further research should investigate underlying mechanisms, cultural, and bio-physiological factors that may mediate the association between psychedelic use and sleep satisfaction. Support (if any) R01HL153467;T37MD008647;T32HL166609