Use of plant-based hallucinogens and dissociative agents: U.S. Time Trends, 2002-2019.
Claire A Walsh, Ofir Livne, Dvora Shmulewitz, Malki Stohl, Deborah S Hasin
Addictive Behaviors Reports December 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100454 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,006,051 |
| Population | U.S. residents aged 12 years and older |
| Duration | 2002-2019 |
| Topics | Ketamine Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Drug use trends Tryptamine psychedelics Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive substances Drug usage statistics Consumption trends Age groups Adult drug use |
| Citations | 34 |
| Key findings | Lifetime use of psilocybin, tryptamine, and ketamine increased among adults, while mescaline use decreased, and salvia use rose then stabilized. |
Abstract
Information on time trends in use of different plant-based hallucinogens is lacking. The current study used nationally representative U.S. data to assess overall and age-specific time trends in the prevalence of lifetime and 12-month use of plant-based hallucinogens and dissociative agents. Participants were respondents aged ≥ 12 years (N = 1,006,051) from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002-2019. Predictors were continuous years. Outcomes included illicit use of peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, ketamine, salvia, and tryptamine. Sociodemographic variables (gender; age; race/ethnicity; educational level; family income) were modeled as covariates. Trends were estimated overall and by age (12-17, 18-25, 26+). Prevalence differences [PDs] were obtained for each category, along with 95 % confidence intervals [CI]. Increases in lifetime use were observed for psilocybin (2002-2019 PD=+1.61), tryptamine (2006-2014 PD=+0.55; 2015-2019 PD=+0.44), and ketamine (2006-2014 PD=+0.27; 2015-2019 PD=+0.21). Mescaline use decreased (PD = -0.89). While overall lifetime salvia use increased between 2006 and 2014 (PD=+1.81), prevalence did not change between 2015 and 2019. Twelve-month use of tryptamine and ketamine increased between 2006 and 2014 (PD=+0.14; +0.03, respectively). Twelve-month ketamine use also increased from 2015 to 2019 (PD=+0.03). By age, participants aged 12-17 and 18-25 showed decreases in use of most types of hallucinogens, but those age 26+ generally showed increases. While use of plant-based hallucinogens and dissociative agents remains rare, lifetime use of ketamine, tryptamine, and psilocybin is increasing in adults. Considering these increases alongside concerns about unsupervised use of illicit products whose dose and composition is uncertain, clinicians and policymakers should remain mindful of the rising rates of illicit use in the general population.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 409 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 29
- Hallucinogen use among young adults ages 19–30 in the United States: Changes from 2018 to 2021 Addiction June 7, 2023
- Trends in drug use among nightclub and festival attendees in New York City, 2017-2022. International Journal of Drug Policy May 1, 2023
- A framework for assessment of adverse events occurring in psychedelic-assisted therapies Journal of Psychopharmacology July 31, 2024
- Psychedelic renaissance: Revitalized potential therapies for psychiatric disorders. Drug Discovery Today December 1, 2023
- Trends and characteristics in ketamine use among US adults with and without depression, 2015-2022. Journal of Affective Disorders March 15, 2025
and 24 more in the library
Cites 28
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
and 23 more in the library