During the early COVID-19 pandemic, a survey of over 5,000 people across five languages found that among 1,375 who had used psychedelics in 2019 or 2020, 642 (46.6%) continued using them during the pandemic. Usage shifted away from settings outside the home, and motives changed: less curiosity, celebration, or social influence, more boredom. Positively connoted, often pro-social experiences increased, and two thirds of pandemic users said psychedelics helped them cope with the pandemic at least slightly. The changes likely reflect pandemic restrictions and a possible shift toward safer settings and self-selection.
During the early COVID-19 pandemic, use of party drugs (stimulants, dissociatives, GHB/GBL) shifted substantially. Among 1,231 users surveyed, 48.0–64.8% ceased or decreased use, 11.9–25.5% maintained, and 23.6–29.1% increased consumption. MDMA/ecstasy showed the strongest decrease; GHB/GBL and dissociatives the highest increase. Price, quality, and supply remained mostly unaffected. Mood-related motivations (e.g., feeling exhilarated or high) were common before and during the pandemic, but social and mood-related reasons declined while coping with boredom rose. 16.4–35.6% found drug use helpful for pandemic-related stressors, which was linked to increased consumption. The findings suggest that users who increased use as a coping strategy may need targeted preventive measures.