Use of psychedelic drugs may reduce the risk of suicide in female sex workers
Use of psychedelic drugs may reduce the risk of suicide in female sex workers
- The researchers looked at whether use of psychedelic drugs – including LSD, psilocybin, ecstasy or MDMA, ayahuasca and mescaline – could have a protective effect.
Sex workers are known to have disproportionately high rates of social and health-related risks, including psychological distress and suicide, Argento noted as background. She added that 80 to 90% of deaths by suicide are attributable to mental health or substance use problems, compounded by trauma, criminalisation, stigma, depression and lack of access to services.
AESHA recruited women (including transgender women) age 14 and older who had exchanged sex for money in the past month through community outreach at street, indoor and online sex work venues. Participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires twice a year.
- The researchers looked at whether use of psychedelic drugs – including LSD, psilocybin, ecstasy or MDMA, ayahuasca and mescaline – could have a protective effect.
Sex workers are known to have disproportionately high rates of social and health-related risks, including psychological distress and suicide, Argento noted as background. She added that 80 to 90% of deaths by suicide are attributable to mental health or substance use problems, compounded by trauma, criminalisation, stigma, depression and lack of access to services.
AESHA recruited women (including transgender women) age 14 and older who had exchanged sex for money in the past month through community outreach at street, indoor and online sex work venues. Participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires twice a year.