Adolescent and adult time trends in US hallucinogen use, 2002–19: any use, and use of ecstasy, LSD and PCP

Abstract Background and Aims Hallucinogen use is potentially harmful. Information on whether such use has increased in recent decades is lacking. This study assessed overall and age‐specific time trends in the prevalence of 12‐month hallucinogen use in the US general population.

Design: Cross‐sectional.

Setting: Data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002–19.

Participants: Respondents aged ≥ 12 years ( n = 1 006 051).

Measurements: Predictors were continuous years. Outcome variables included any hallucinogen use and use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy and phencyclidine (PCP) in the past year. Socio‐demographic variables (gender, age, race/ethnicity, educational level and family income) were covariates.

Findings: Overall, hallucinogen use increased between 2015 and 2019 [prevalence difference (PD) = +0.44, P < 0.05]. Since 2002, hallucinogen use has increased in adults aged ≥ 26 years (PD, 2002–14 = +0.24, P < 0.05; PD, 2015–19 = +0.45, P < 0.001) and decreased in adolescents aged 12–17 years (PD, 2002–14 = −1.60, P < 0.0001; PD, 2015–19 = −0.73, P < 0.001). Ecstasy use has decreased in adolescents (PD, 2002–14 = −0.56, P < 0.001), adults aged 18–25 years (PD, 2015–19 = −0.96, P < 0.01) and ≥ 26 years (PD, 2015–19 = −0.13, P < 0.05). LSD use between 2002 and 2019 increased overall (PD = +0.71, P < 0.0001) and in all age groups (12–17: PD = +0.67, P < 0.001; 18–25: PD = +3.12, P < 0.0001; ≥ 26: PD = +0.36, P < 0.0001). Conversely, PCP use between 2002 and 2019 decreased overall (PD = –0.06, P < 0.001), in adolescents (PD = –0.24, P < 0.001) and young adults (PD = –0.32, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Since 2002, hallucinogen use in the United States has decreased among adolescents but increased in adults and is now estimated to affect more than 3 million adults aged 26+ years and more than 5.5 million adults aged 18+ years.