Use of hallucinogens in Slovakia: Does it differ from global trends?
Marek Lukačovič, Radomír Masaryk
International Journal of Drug Policy December 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103385 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 422 |
| Population | Slovak adults who had used hallucinogens at least once, recruited online via snowball sampling |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Attitudes Drug policy Hallucinogens Psychedelics |
| Key findings | Slovak hallucinogen users in this sample showed usage patterns similar to global trends, most often using psilocybin mushrooms and preferring free use without rituals. Participants generally viewed hallucinogens as useful but somewhat dangerous, and considered integrating psychedelic experiences simple rather than challenging. Males reported earlier first use, greater lifetime use, and stronger support for decriminalization and legalization than females. |
Abstract
People have been using hallucinogens for thousands of years and interest in these substances has grown in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the basic socio-demographic data, preferences, experiences, and attitudes associated with hallucinogen use in Slovakia. A cross-sectional research design was used whereby an online survey included participants who had had at least one experience with hallucinogens (N = 422, age M = 27.78; SD = 7.84; SE = 0.38; 35.1% females). Due to the illegal, intimate, and minority nature of the phenomena studied, data was collected using the snowball sampling method via an online social network in groups that declared a drug focus. Users of hallucinogens were mostly employed (61,8%) and in some form of partnership (57,6%); they usually have a high school diploma (46,68%) or a university degree (45,41%). They most often use psilocybin mushrooms, while the age of initial use (M = 19,61; SD = 5,39) as well as lifetime frequency use (M = 18,26; SD = 24,21; Median = 10) are similar to global trends. Free use without rituals was preferred to ceremonial use. In general, our sample of hallucinogen users considered the integration of psychedelic experiences to be simple rather than challenging. Concurrently, they tended to see hallucinogens as useful to humans, but realised that they are not without risk and can be somewhat dangerous. Males used hallucinogens for the first time at a younger age (p < .05, r = -.12), used more hallucinogens during their lifetime (p <.001, r = -.23), and demanded decriminalisation and legalisation more (p <.01, r = -.13) than females. Slovak users of hallucinogens in our sample showed similar usage trends as users abroad. Even though both males and females perceive and evaluate hallucinogens very similarly, females are significantly more careful in using these substances.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on ayahuasca, 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 |
| Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey. Ayahuasca users from more than 50 countries who completed an online survey | 2022 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 10,836 |
| Ayahuasca in adolescence: a preliminary psychiatric assessment. Adolescents from a Brazilian ayahuasca sect and matched controls | 2005 | Controlled cross-sectional study | n = 80 |
| Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users. Regular hoasca users from a U.S. branch of União do Vegetal and matched non-user controls | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | n = 57 |
| Indoleamine Hallucinogens in Cluster Headache: Results of the Clusterbusters Medication Use Survey People with cluster headache | 2015 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 496 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- A Scoping Review of Research in Naturalistic Studies with Psychedelics. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 28, 2025
- Latin American adults who regularly use macrodoses of psychedelics: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports October 13, 2024
- Subjektívne vnímané riziká užívania psychedelík Ceskoslovenska psychologie December 29, 2021
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