Do (Ab)Users of Psychedelics Have Tendencies to Abuse High Authority? An Internet Snapshot Study

Ahmed Al-Imam,Ban A Abdulmajeed

doi:10.5539/gjhs.v9n11p148

Ahmed Al-Imam, Ban A Abdulmajeed

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v9n11p148

Copy DOI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hallucinogenic substances, also known as psychedelics and entheogens, represent a subset of novel psychoactive substances. The epidemiology of (ab)use and electronic commerce of Psychedelics has been well-mapped in the developed world. However, countries from the developing world are yet to be explored. Principles of psychology including thematic psychoanalysis were not implemented before in connection with psychedelics.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study is based on an internet snapshot technique; it will explore and analyse the comments of psychedelics’ (ab)users in relation to the possibility of abuse of some granted power (authority); several demographic parameters of (ab)users will be explored. The snapshot will implement thematic analysis and psychoanalysis of comments found on drug fora and social communication media.RESULTS: The highest contribution of psychedelic users existed in the developed world, while the developing countries including the Middle East contributed the least. More than half (57%) of Psychedelic (ab)users tend to misuse power, which may indicate an existing psychopathology.CONCLUSION: Psychedelic users tend to mishandle the use of authority. The prevalence of psychedelic (ab)users in the Middle East is considered to be minimal. Additional analyses are required and in different populations of students, academics, medical professionals, psychiatric patients, prisoners, terrorists, and military organisations.

Highlights

Hallucinogenic substances, known as psychedelics and entheogens, represent a subset of novel psychoactive substances
The highest contribution of psychedelic users existed in the developed world, while the developing countries including the Middle East contributed the least
Psychedelic users tend to mishandle the use of authority

Summary

Materials and Methods

An internet snapshot was taken for the comments of (ab)users of psychedelics substances (hallucinogens); these observations were systematically carried out on specific groups on the Facebook social communication medium and online drug fora These groups and fora are dedicated for psychedelic users where they interact socially, share subjective experiences about psychedelic “trips”, and comment on a plethora of philosophical topics (Boyer et al, 2007; Van Hout et al, 2013; Van Hout et al, 2014). A critical component of structural power, known as coercion and punishment, will be explored in relation to a particular population of web users (psychedelic users). Threads of commentaries of 264 (ab)users were analysed for gender (1), geographic location (2); the number of words per comment (3), and the theme comments (4). The level-of-evidence of this study is level-2b in accordance with the categorization system scheme imposed by the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (University of Oxford, 2009)

Results

Conclusion

Backgrounds

Results and Discussion