Addictive behaviors
September 1, 2022
Kevin H. Yang, Benjamin H Han, Joseph J Palamar
30 citations
LSD use was linked with a higher likelihood of major depressive episodes and suicidal thinking, while salvia divinorum use was associated with increased suicidal thinking and DMT/AMT/Foxy use with suicidal planning. In contrast, ecstasy (MDMA) use was linked with a lower likelihood of serious psychological distress, major depressive episodes, and suicidal thinking. These findings from a large US national survey indicate that different hallucinogens have distinct associations with depression and suicidality, highlighting the need for further research on risks and consequences of nonmedical hallucinogen use.
Addictive behaviors
November 1, 2011
Jason A Ford, William C Watkins, Lindsey Blumenstein
19 citations
Using data from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which included nearly 70,000 respondents aged 12 and older across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, lifetime salvia use was reported by 1.66% of adolescents (ages 12–17) and 5.08% of adults (ages 18–34). Among adolescents, use correlated with age, gender, income, peer and parent attitudes toward substance use, and other drug use. Among adults, correlates included age, gender, race, religiosity, marital status, criminal involvement, and other substance use.
Addictive behaviors
June 1, 2026
Sebastian Ehmann, Nathan M. Hager, Paul S. Regier et al.
Using data from the 2023 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, lifetime use of mescaline or peyote was associated with lower opioid use disorder severity, while lifetime use of LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, or DMT was associated with higher severity. The link between mescaline/peyote use and lower severity appeared only among adults with high mental health impairment. The findings suggest that different types of psychedelic use have divergent relationships with opioid use disorder severity, and that mental health status may influence these associations.
Addictive behaviors
November 1, 2025
Samantha M Ross-Cypcar, Justin A Haegele, Jeanette M Garcia
Among disabled adults, past-year hallucinogen use is more common (8.37%) than among nondisabled adults (4.86%). Of disabled adults who used hallucinogens, nearly half reported a major depressive episode, over two-thirds reported serious psychological distress, and about 40% reported suicidal thinking, planning, or attempt. About 4% said hallucinogen use worsened or caused emotional or mental health problems. The findings come from a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18–50.
Addictive behaviors
August 1, 2026
Sarret Seng, Chizimuzo T C Okoli, Lovoria B Williams et al.
A systematic review of 36 studies (N = 2,852 participants) finds that substance use is generally associated with poorer metacognitive functioning, though effects vary by substance and study design. Experimental evidence shows alcohol's effects are mixed; cannabinoids generally impair metacognitive accuracy and calibration; benzodiazepines impair awareness of performance and error detection; methamphetamine has dose-dependent effects on agency judgments; and nicotine replacement does not restore accuracy after abstinence. Craving states are linked to poorer monitoring and calibration. Observational studies report that cocaine, nicotine, opioid, cannabis, alcohol, and polysubstance use are associated with greater maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and reduced monitoring accuracy, though some clinical comparisons show domain-specific or relatively preserved functioning.
Addictive behaviors
March 1, 2026
Rachel L Gunn, Lindy K Howe, Holly K Boyle et al.
In a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial, 125 adults who drank heavily and used cannabis at least twice weekly smoked placebo, 3.1% THC, or 7.2% THC cannabis cigarettes. Participants with higher working memory capacity, measured by a symmetry span task, reported significantly lower alcohol urge after smoking the higher THC dose compared to placebo. Lower working memory, measured by an n-back task, was linked to higher alcohol urge overall but did not alter cannabis's effect on urge. The authors suggest that individuals with lower working memory may be less likely to experience reduced alcohol craving from cannabis.
Addictive behaviors
January 1, 2026
Ran Ma, Xingzhe Wu, Wei Xu
Brief mindfulness meditation can increase the enjoyment of alcohol in healthy young adults who are not addicted, without increasing how much they actually drink. Across two randomized trials with 67 and 89 participants respectively, a 16-minute mindfulness induction led to significantly higher subjective alcohol enjoyment and greater positive affect, along with reduced negative emotion, compared to a neutral control task. However, mindfulness did not change the amount of alcohol consumed, nor did it alter implicit attitudes toward alcohol versus tea. The findings suggest that mindfulness may intensify sensory and emotional responses to alcohol without boosting consumption, possibly because reward sensitivity and behavioral impulse are dissociated. This highlights the need to align mindfulness practices with specific motivational and regulatory goals to avoid unintended reinforcement of substance-related pleasure in non-addicted populations.
Addictive behaviors
January 1, 2023
James E Sottile, Kathryn S Macia, Robert E Wickham et al.
MDMA/Ecstasy users are motivated by social, expansion, coping, and energy factors, distinct from the motives for alcohol, cannabis, or methamphetamine use. A new four-factor motives scale was developed from an international online sample of 1,754 adults. The scale showed good internal consistency and validity, with social, expansion, coping, and energy motives emerging as significant, while conformity and enhancement did not. The findings highlight the unique stimulating, emotional, and empathic effects sought by recreational MDMA/Ecstasy users, which can inform treatment interventions and harm reduction policies.
Addictive behaviors
October 1, 2007
Sarah Bowen, Katie Witkiewitz, Tiara M Dillworth et al.
Attempting to suppress thoughts about using substances can paradoxically increase substance use. Vipassana, a mindfulness meditation practice that emphasizes acceptance rather than suppression of unwanted thoughts, was previously shown to reduce substance use in incarcerated individuals. This follow-up study found that participants in a Vipassana course reported significantly less avoidance of thoughts compared to a control group receiving treatment as usual. This reduction in thought avoidance partially explained the course's positive effects on alcohol use and related consequences after release from incarceration.