Hallucinogenic drug use doubles in just three years

Although LSD is the most popular psychedelic drug, young adults are increasingly turning to psilocybin, a substance that is also used to treat depression.

Published by

Verónica Silveri Pazos

19 de junio, 2023

Topics:

drugs

A study published by Addiction Journal highlights that the consumption of psilocybin, a hallucinogenic drug, doubled between 2018 and 2021 . Megan Patrick, co-author of the report, indicated that the findings and results of the study are difficult to explain:

Doubling the prevalence in just three years is a dramatic increase and raises potential public health concerns. It is really difficult to explain these trends.

The percentage of young adults (8%) who claimed to have tried some type of hallucinogenic drug in 2021 also reflects a steady increase: 3% (in 2011); 5% (2016) and 8% (2021), according to federal data.

Consumption of hallucinogens could continue to break records

The report predicts that if the trend of increase continues, it is likely that very soon consumption of these drugs will reach the same level as that of Baby Boomers in the 1960s-1970s. At that time, about 18% of college students claimed to have tried the hallucinogens, according to a survey conducted by Gallup (1971).

But there are changes in the type of hallucinogen that is mostly consumed. Although lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is the most popular and has shown an increase in use, young adults are increasingly turning to psilocybin. It is also used as a treatment for depression, anxiety and other illnesses. Colorado and Oregon have legalized its use.

LSD consumption increased from 3.7% in 2018 to 4.2% in 2021. However, the study indicated that in 2021, 6.6% of people aged 19 to 30 chose to use hallucinogens other than LSD (most of them opted for psilocybin). In 2018, that figure was only 3.4%.