Multiple studies and reviews demonstrate that certain parasites—such as Toxoplasma gondii and manipulative fungi—can alter host neurobiology in ways that promote self-destructive or risk-taking behaviors, including substance dependence and suicide attempts.
The retrieved papers strongly support the claim that certain parasites alter host behavior, including human behavior, in ways that can be self-destructive (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii correlating with increased suicide attempts and substance abuse, and established biological models of parasite manipulation in other organisms). There are no refuting papers.