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Perceived risk of LSD varies with age and race: evidence from 2019 United States cross-sectional data.

Nicholas L. Bormann, Andrea N Weber, Benjamin Miskle, Nicole Woodson-DeFauw, Stephan Arndt, Alison C Lynch

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology October 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02448-6 (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 41,679
Population Respondents to the 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health
Topics LSD
Keywords Healthcare disparities Illicit drugs Substance use Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Treatment gaps Care inequalities Risk assessment Safety
Citations 6
Key findings White respondents and those reporting more than one race perceived significantly lower risk from LSD than other racial and ethnic groups, and perceived risk increased with age.

Abstract

Psychedelics are being explored for their potential therapeutic benefits across a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and may usher in a new age in psychiatric treatment. There is stigma associated with these currently illegal substances, and use varies by race and age. We hypothesized that minoritized racial and ethnic populations, relative to White respondents, would perceive psychedelic use as riskier. Using 2019 cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we conducted a secondary analysis of 41,679 respondents. Perceived risk of heroin was used as a surrogate for overall risk of illegal substance use; heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide were the only substances queried this way in the sample. A majority regarded lysergic acid diethylamide (66.7%) and heroin (87.3%) as a great risk if used once or twice. There were clear differences by race, with White respondents and those indicating more than one race having significantly lower perceived risk of lysergic acid diethylamide than respondents from other groups. Perceived risk of use also significantly increased with age. Perceived risk of lysergic acid diethylamide is unevenly distributed across the population. Stigma and racial disparities in drug-related crimes likely contribute to this. As research into potential therapeutic indications for psychedelics continues, perceived risk of use may change.

Comparable studies

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

Study Year Design Participants
Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT Adults reporting a single most memorable God encounter experience, either nondrug or... 2019 Cross-sectional survey n = 4,285
Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... 2001 Cross-sectional survey n = 122
Development of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire among a sample of people who have consumed psilocybin or LSD Psilocybin and LSD users 2021 Cross-sectional survey study n = 1,661
Prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics. US adult population 2023 Cross-sectional survey n = 2,822
Trends in LSD use among US adults: 2015-2018. US adults ages 18 and older 2020 Secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data n = 168,562

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