Dr. Jesse J. Norris
Dr. Jesse J. Norris published an article in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology.
The work by the associate professor of Criminal Justice at SUNY Fredonia, is titled, “The Role of Delusions in Homicides by Psychedelic-Intoxicated Offenders: A Mixed-Method Analysis.”
Based on an analysis of 626 homicides committed under the influence of a psychedelic drug like LSD or psilocybin, Dr. Norris found that delusions were present in 28 percent of homicide offenders, were more common among those who killed a parent, friend or romantic partner, those who were on psilocybin, and those who did not mix psychedelics with other drugs. Qualitative analyses showed that many psychedelic-intoxicated homicide offenders had delusions about demons or devils or about people attacking them. Most delusion-related homicides were committed to counter a human or supernatural threat. Norris noted that strategies for preventing such homicides should include raising awareness about their existence, encouraging caution in terms of dosage and the situational context of drug use, and discouraging use among those with previous adverse experiences or other risk factors like a personal or family history of serious mental illness.
