Pattern of psychedelic substance use: a comparison between populations in Spain and South America using the Psychedelic Use Scale (PUS)
Jaime Rojas-Hernández, Lucas F Borkel, Domingo Jesús Quintana Hernández, Ángelo Santana, Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández
Current Psychology November 21, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-024-07017-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 735 |
| Population | Spanish and Spanish-speaking South American adults |
| Topics | MDMA Mescaline Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychoactive substance Population Hallucinogen Substance use Scale ratio Demography Clinical psychology Environmental health Cartography |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Psychedelic use patterns differed between Spanish and South American populations, with MDMA more used in Spain and mescaline more used in South America, and age under 30 was a risk factor for adverse effects. |
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic use has increased in the last decade. However, it is unclear whether the cultural background of the consumers exerts any influence. The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of psychedelic use in Spain and Spanish-speaking populations in South America and compare these consumption patterns to understand the use of these substances in two culturally distinct populations. The Psychedelic Use Scale (PUS) was administered via the Google Surveys platform between September and November 2022. 735 participants were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The study received ethics approval from the local ethics committee. Psilocybin was the most used substance. MDMA was more frequently consumed in the Spanish population (78.5 vs. 37.1%), while mescaline was more commonly used among participants from South America (31.9 vs. 24.0%), mainly among males ( P < 0.05). Among the Spanish population, MDMA was the most commonly combined psychedelic; for the South American population, LSD was the substance most frequently combined, highlighting the predominant recreational use of this substance. DMT predicted the most adverse effects during consumption, whereas MDMA predicted the most adverse effects after consumption. Age was as a risk factor for the development of adverse effects, with a significant increase in risk observed in individuals under 30 years of age (OR = 2.01, CI95% 1.1–3.6). In conclusion, the pattern of psychedelic substance use differed between both populations, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive studies. This is especially crucial in light of the social shifts stemming from the ongoing psychedelic renaissance.