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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)

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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.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on mescaline, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States 2013 Cross-sectional survey n = 130,152
Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness General population online sample 2017 Cross-sectional survey n = 1,487
Voice of the Psychonauts: Coping, Life Purpose, and Spirituality in Psychedelic Drug Users Psychedelic drug users, other drug users, and drug nonusers 2011 Cross-sectional survey n = 667
Naturalistic Use of Mescaline Is Associated with Self-Reported Psychiatric Improvements and Enduring Positive Life Changes. Adults reporting use of mescaline in naturalistic settings 2021 Cross-sectional survey n = 452
Acute Adverse Reactions to Lsd in Clinical and Experimental use in the United Kingdom Subjects in LSD or mescaline sessions 1971 Survey n = 5,000

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MDMA Mescaline Psilocybin DMT LSD