Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/98261557126
Levi Lewin
I am a sophomore studying Hispanic Literatures and Cultures, German Studies, and Religion. I am from Reading, Massachusetts, and I spend most of my time pursuing my goals in endurance sports, lifting, and music. I also enjoy reading, eating, and spending time outside with friends, later beating them all in ping pong.
Abstract: There is plentiful research revealing an association between hallucinogens like psilocybin and intense spiritual and almost religious experiences in users, as well as their general spiritual beliefs. However, the association between Salvia divinorum use (another hallucinogen) and general, self-reported religiosity is a very understudied subject. In this analysis, I utilized data from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to explore this question. I found that while a history of Salvia use is generally negatively associated with a strong sense of religiosity, and this relationship remains unaffected when accounting for age, it is strongly moderated by one’s status as a university student. This brings up new and important questions regarding the nature of the relationships between this drug, ideology, and university-age people, as well as what consequences that might entail.
LeviL_QAC201_FinalPoster_Spring26