Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2005
Tom F. M. Ter Bogt, Rutger C. M. E. Engels
144 citations
At Dutch dance parties in 2001-2002, partygoers used MDMA mainly for its energetic and euphoric effects. Greater MDMA use was linked to hardcore and trance/mainstream party styles, motivations of euphoria, sexiness, self-insight, and sociability (negatively), and to gender, lower education, and friends' MDMA use. Women reported more acute negative effects—depression, confusion, loss of control, suspiciousness, edginess, nausea, dizziness—than men. Women motivated to cope with problems by using MDMA were particularly at risk. For men, polydrug use and motivation to conform to friends were associated with negative effects.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2005
Karen Mcelrath
102 citations
Most MDMA users report feelings of emotional closeness without a desire for penetrative sex, but some, especially gay and bisexual females, use the drug specifically for sexual enhancement. Among those who do have sex during MDMA episodes, sexual risk taking—such as having multiple partners and not using condoms—is common. The study is based on in-depth interviews with 98 current and former MDMA users conducted in 1997 and 1998. Most had used MDMA in the prior six months, and many had used it 100 times or more.
Substance Use & Misuse
March 1, 2010
Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano
43 citations
Recreational ketamine use may trigger experiences resembling near-death experiences (NDEs). In a sample of 50 ketamine misusers who scored at least 7 on the Greyson NDE Scale, 90% reported altered time perception, 88% felt detached from their own body, and 76% experienced peace or joy. Most NDEs occurred during the first few uses, and participants reported an average lifetime intake of 140 occasions. The sample was self-selected, nonrandomized, and small, but the findings suggest a link between recreational ketamine and NDE-like states.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2005
Jill A. McCaughan, Robert G Carlson, Rüssel S. Falck et al.
43 citations
Young people who attend raves and use ecstasy are not a uniform group. Based on focus groups, interviews with 36 current and former ecstasy users aged 19–31 in central Ohio, and participant observation, five main subgroups were identified: Chemi-Kids, Candy Kids, non-affiliated Party Kids, Junglists, and Old School Ravers. These groups differ in musical taste, philosophy, clothing, time in the subculture, and drug use patterns. For instance, ecstasy use is most common among Candy Kids, while Junglists tend to use more ketamine and methamphetamine. Alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogens are also widespread. This typology can help design targeted prevention strategies.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2008
Sarah Riley, Graham Blackman
36 citations
A 2004 survey of 174 magic mushroom users in Edinburgh and Bristol, UK, found that consumption was infrequent but intense: 47% used 4-12 times per year, with an average dose of 12 g per session. Users reported laughter, hallucinations, altered perspective (41-74%), and feeling closer to nature (49%). Negative experiences included paranoia (35%) and anxiety (32%). Use occurred within a wider recreational drug and alcohol culture. Focus groups aided interpretation. The authors recommend future research into negative experiences and discuss implications for policy and harm reduction.
Substance Use & Misuse
March 11, 2014
Sam Himelstein, Stephen Saul, Albert Garcia‐romeu et al.
28 citations
Teaching mindfulness to incarcerated adolescent substance users requires adapting instruction to their developmental stage, trauma histories, and restricted environment. Over one year, interviews with ten adolescents in an urban California detention facility revealed that effective teaching involves building trust, using concrete language, keeping sessions short, and integrating movement. The initial grounded theory emphasizes relationship, relevance, and repetition as core components. The findings suggest that standard mindfulness curricula need modification for this population, and that even within constraints, adolescents can engage with mindfulness practices.
Substance Use & Misuse
October 24, 2020
Balthazar Bazin, David Duroy, Michel Lejoyeux
27 citations
About one in five French medical students (21.5%) had tried MDMA, with use more common among males, those who also used tobacco, cannabis, or other illicit drugs, and those who drank alcohol frequently. Most users took the drug in pill form, primarily at parties or raves. The findings suggest that MDMA experimentation is relatively common in this population and is linked to broader patterns of substance use.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2002
Paolo Nencini
17 citations
Current models of drug addiction emphasize how drugs hijack the brain's reward system, focusing on pleasure as a primary cause. By comparing ancient shamanic rituals with modern rave parties, this analysis challenges that assumption. In archaic contexts, drug use served supernatural purposes, not recreation. Only after a fully secular setting for drug use emerged did psychoactive substances fully express their hedonistic potential, a development that occurred gradually.
Substance Use & Misuse
April 25, 2022
Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno, Dóra Révész, Paulo Rogério Morais et al.
15 citations
Regular ceremonial use of ayahuasca is associated with lower anxiety, less negative affect, higher intrinsic religiosity, and reduced past-month use of both licit and illicit substances compared to non-regular use. Regular users also reported lower general and physical quality of life. The study compared 101 regular users with 185 non-regular users in Brazil, finding no differences in lifetime drug use between groups after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.
Substance Use & Misuse
July 2, 2013
David Michael Wood, Paul Ivor Dargan
14 citations
Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT), a novel psychoactive substance available online, became less available and cheaper between March and October 2012. The number of internet sites selling AMT dropped from 44 to 31. Bulk purchases (100 g) were less expensive than recreational-user quantities (100 mg), and overall prices decreased. Internet snapshot surveys provide data that, combined with other sources, offer a fuller understanding of the availability and use of novel psychoactive substances.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2023
Bahram Armoon, Mark D Griffiths, Rasool Mohammadi
13 citations
Street-involved children and youth who work and live on or off the streets face elevated risks of using psychoactive substances and injecting drugs. A systematic review of studies published from 1985 to 2022 found that the most commonly reported lifetime and current substances were tobacco, cannabis, LSD/ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and injection drugs. Lifetime and current use of methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as lifetime use of cocaine, LSD/ecstasy, heroin, tobacco, and injection drugs, increased with age, while current cocaine and tobacco use decreased with age.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2009
Catherine Reynaud-Maurupt, Agnès Cadet‐Taïrou, Anne Zöll
8 citations
People who repeatedly used hallucinogenic plants or mushrooms in France between 2004 and 2007 described three distinct meanings for their drug use. Some viewed the substances as enchanting, others as disorienting, and still others as visionary. These representations shaped how users understood and experienced their consumption.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2024
Benjamin A. Korman
4 citations
Past-year LSD use increased more rapidly among business managers than among non-managers in the United States between 2006 and 2014. This difference was not explained by changes in managers' perceived risk of LSD or overall substance use. The findings suggest that hierarchical rank in the workplace is linked to rising LSD use, and that managers—both men and women—may be increasingly drawn to LSD for its potential to enhance creativity and competitive performance.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2025
Jadyn Hartwig, Jared Kendrick, Ghonwa Ahmad et al.
3 citations
People who use the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) report more positive than negative effects, and the negative effects are typically mild and temporary. This conclusion comes from analyzing 998 main posts and 9,542 comments on the Reddit forum r/AmanitaMuscaria. Users described reasons for consumption, modes of use, and both beneficial and adverse outcomes. The findings suggest that medical providers may not easily learn about a patient's use of this mushroom unless severe side effects occur. Further research into the mushroom's pharmacology and deeper analysis of online discussions is recommended to inform safe practices.
Substance Use & Misuse
August 17, 2021
Pravesh Sharma, Kira E. Riehm, Andrea S. Young et al.
3 citations
Adolescent cannabis use and family history of substance use disorders (SUD) each independently predict paranoid and schizotypal personality traits in young adulthood, but preadolescent transmissible liability to SUD does not. The study followed 448 children of men with or without a lifetime SUD history from ages 10-12 to age 19. Cannabis use at age 16 and family SUD history were both linked to higher paranoid and schizotypal symptoms at age 19, with no interactive effect between liability and cannabis use. Paranoid and schizotypal symptoms displayed different dose-dependent sensitivities to cannabis exposure, suggesting distinct pathways not involving behavioral disinhibition.
Substance Use & Misuse
June 5, 2025
Anna Wang, Ryan Athay, Nae Won et al.
2 citations
A survey conducted in 20 US urban cities over a single weekend detected recent use of recreational cannabis, psilocybin, and cocaine. Reported prevalence of these substances varied by region, indicating that prevention messages should be customized for different areas of the country.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2025
Torbjørn Lien Kjær, Peter Hindersson, Jacob Rong Bentzen et al.
2 citations
A quality-control study of drug testing in three Danish prisons found that on-site immunoassay screening performed acceptably for the substances it targeted, with sensitivity ranging from 66 to 100%, specificity above 98%, and accuracy above 95%. However, laboratory analysis using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS detected additional drugs not covered by the screening, including tramadol, oxycodone, buprenorphine, ketamine, MDMA, 4-fluoroamphetamine, and GHB. The prevalence of drug use among inmates was, in order: cannabis, ethanol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamine. No evidence emerged of a trend toward new psychoactive substances (NPS). The findings prompted plans to implement a broader screening method to reduce false negatives.
Substance Use & Misuse
May 1, 2025
Corinne L Chandler, Mance E Buttram, Matthew S Ellis
1 citation
Among 301 treatment-seeking individuals with opioid use disorder, 28.6% reported lifetime ketamine use. Ketamine use was more common among males and less common in rural locations. Most respondents used ketamine for psychoactive effects, and nearly half used it to self-treat physical or mental health problems, including mitigating opioid withdrawal or cravings. Polysubstance use involving ketamine was prevalent, with marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, MDMA, hallucinogens, and both prescription and illicit opioids commonly co-used. Negative experiences, including central nervous system complications and mental distress, were reported by 32.1% of those who used ketamine. Motivations for use varied, and such behaviors may increase risks of psychiatric or physical health conditions, including overdose or death.
Substance Use & Misuse
March 28, 2026
Graeme Knibb, Ruby Ward, Paul Christiansen et al.
People who use psilocybin for therapeutic or personal growth reasons tend to experience less self-stigma—the internalization of negative societal beliefs—while those who use it for social recreation tend to experience more self-stigma. In a survey of 239 people with prior psilocybin experience, three distinct motives emerged: social recreation, experiential enhancement, and therapeutic growth. Greater therapeutic growth motives were linked to lower self-stigma across cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions, and also to more frequent psilocybin use. Social recreation motives predicted higher self-stigma. Experiential enhancement showed no significant association with self-stigma. The results suggest that why people use psilocybin may shape how they internalize stigma, with implications for other substances and for clinical use.
Substance Use & Misuse
February 1, 2026
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Kenneth Blum, Sergio Schmidt et al.
Since 2000, suicide and opioid overdose rates have risen sharply. About one-third of people with major depressive disorder have treatment-resistant depression, creating an urgent need for new therapies. This narrative review synthesizes key preclinical and clinical findings on low-dose ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects. Low-dose ketamine quickly alleviates depressive symptoms, even in refractory depression. Proposed mechanisms include modulation of dopamine signaling via epigenetic neuroadaptation, interactions with D1/D2 receptor systems, optogenetic activation of D1 pathways, and changes in D2/D3 receptor availability. No consensus exists on its definitive mechanism of action. Ketamine's psychoactive properties and abuse potential underscore the need for enhanced clinical oversight and regulation.
Substance Use & Misuse
December 17, 2025
Markus D Moore, Andrew Moore, Saeed K Alzghari
Ibogaine shows promise as a treatment for opioid dependence, but more research is required to evaluate its safety and effectiveness.
Substance Use & Misuse
July 15, 2026
Parvin Ajami Bakhtiarvand, Mohammad Reza Abedi
An umbrella review of 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2017 and 2026 assessed the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for substance use disorder treatment, relapse prevention, and craving reduction. The evidence suggests that MBIs, including Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement, provide preliminary support for reducing relapse (effect sizes: d = 0.45–0.78) and craving for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants (Hedges' g = 0.52–0.71). Neuroimaging findings indicated increased prefrontal activation and reduced insular hyperactivity. Heterogeneity and study quality should be considered; standardization and longer follow-up are recommended for clinical application.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2025
Sofia E Olsson, Vishaldeep K Sekhon, Cassidy R Loparco et al.
After the 2018 U.S. farm bill, retailers sold intoxicating Delta-8 THC products as legal hemp. A qualitative analysis of 47 YouTube videos posted in 2022 identified four themes: reasons to use, how to use, effects, and safety/harm reduction. Creators promoted Delta-8 for its claimed federal legality, easy access, and a milder, euphoric high than traditional cannabis. Product quality varied by purchase location, with online sources preferred over gas stations. Few videos were age-restricted. The findings suggest a need for media campaigns to correct misinformation and for prevention efforts.
Substance Use & Misuse
January 1, 2019
Thomas Lyons, Veronica Y Womack, Wm Dustin Cantrell et al.
More than half of prisoners in the United States are estimated to have a substance use disorder. Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) adapted for a jail substance use disorder treatment setting was tested against a comparison communication skills intervention. Over six weekly sessions, 189 incarcerated men enrolled in a drug treatment program in a large urban jail participated. Anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and drug cravings declined in both groups, and mindfulness increased. A small but significantly greater increase in mindfulness occurred in the MBRP group. An attention control trial of a mindfulness intervention delivered by a culturally competent trainer is feasible in a jail setting.
Substance Use & Misuse
June 7, 2018
Jacob Fox, Alexis Smith, Alexander Yale et al.
At outdoor music festivals, drug use, including novel psychoactive substances (NPS), is common and normalized. Interviews with 171 attendees at two Colorado festivals in 2015 and 2016 revealed that most were experienced drug users who perceived minimal risks. Nearly all reported normalization of drug use at festivals. Primary motivations for use were empathogenic, entactogenic, and entheogenic effects. NPS use was endorsed by 39.8% (n=68) of respondents, all experienced users, who cited low cost, minimal perceived risk, accessibility, and normalization as reasons.