2018 to 2021 Saw Rise of Non-LSD Hallucinogen Use in U.S. Young Adults

Higher use seen among males, White people, and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Past-year use of non-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) hallucinogens was twice as high in 2021 as in 2018 among U.S. young adults, according to a study published online June 7 in Addiction.

Katherine M. Keyes, Ph.D., M.P.H., from Columbia University in New York City, and Megan E. Patrick, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, measured hallucinogen use among 11,304 young adults (aged 19 to 30 years) from 2018 to 2021.

The researchers found that past 12-month use of LSD remained relatively unchanged (from 3.7 percent in 2018 to 4.2 percent in 2021). However, there was an increase in non-LSD hallucinogen (e.g., “shrooms,” psilocybin, or PCP) use (from 3.4 to 6.6 percent). The odds of non-LSD use over time were higher for males (odds ratio, 1.86) and lower for Black than White participants (odds ratio, 0.29) and those without a college-educated parent (odds ratio, 0.80). For LSD use, demographic-based differences were similar.

“The use of psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs for a range of therapeutic uses is increasing, given accumulating yet still preliminary data from randomized trials on clinical effectiveness,” Keyes said in a statement. “With increased visibility for medical and therapeutic use, however, potentially comes diversion and unregulated product availability, as well as a lack of understanding among the public of potential risks.”