Race, Ethnic, and Sex Differences in Prevalence of and Trends in Hallucinogen Consumption Among Lifetime Users in the United States Between 2015 and 2019

Abstract

BackgroundThe current study is one of the first to examine race, ethnic, and sex differences in the prevalence of and trends in hallucinogen use among lifetime users in the United States.MethodsData came from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and included respondent's reporting ever-using hallucinogens (n = 41,060; female = 40.4%). Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted in Stata.ResultsHighest prevalence of past year hallucinogen use was among Asian females (35.06%), which was two-or-more times larger than prevalence of past year use among White males/females and Native American males. More than half of White males/females, Multiracial males, and Hispanic males reported had ever-used psilocybin or LSD, whereas less than one-quarter of Black males/females reported lifetime psilocybin use, and less than a third of Black females reported lifetime LSD use. Native American males had the lowest prevalence of lifetime MDMA use (17.62–33.30%) but had the highest lifetime prevalence of peyote use (40.37–53.24%). Pacific Islander males had the highest prevalence of lifetime mescaline use (28.27%), and lifetime DMT use was highest among Pacific Islander males/females (15.68–38.58%). Black, Asian, and Multiracial people had greater odds of past-year (ORs = 1.20–2.02; ps < 0.05) and past-month (ORs = 1.39–2.06; ps < 0.05) hallucinogen use compared to White people. Females had lower odds of past-year (OR = 0.79; ps < 0.05), past-month (OR = 0.78; ps < 0.05) hallucinogen use compared to males, except for lifetime use of MDMA (OR = 1.29; ps < 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings should inform public health initiatives regarding potential benefits and risks of hallucinogen use among racial/ethnic groups and women.

Prevalence and Correlates of Past Year Ecstasy/MDMA Use in the United States

“…Compared with individuals identifying as White, those identifying as Asian, Black, or multiracial were more likely to report past-year ecstasy/MDMA use. Similar demographic findings were reported by Davis et al 25 in relation to past-year hallucinogen use. However, our findings are in contrast to older epidemiologic research, in which those identifying as Black were actually less likely to use ecstasy/MDMA.…”

“…[31][32][33] However, more recent research has shown that this is not the case. 25,34 Some studies suggest that factors including trauma from resettlement, acculturation, urbanicity, and cultural influences may explain the increasing substance use seen in both Asian and Black populations. 21,[35][36][37] These data suggest that ecstasy/ MDMA use patterns are heterogeneous by racial and ethnic subgroups and different from prior epidemiological studies of ecstasy/MDMA.…”

“…Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing minority groups in America, yet because of the “model minority” stereotype and limited research on substance use among this population in comparison to other major ethnic groups, Asian Americans have been thought to have lower than expected rates of substance use disorders 31–33 . However, more recent research has shown that this is not the case 25,34 . Some studies suggest that factors including trauma from resettlement, acculturation, urbanicity, and cultural influences may explain the increasing substance use seen in both Asian and Black populations 21,35–37 .…”

“…Most research using nationally representative samples is becoming outdated, [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] while others have focused on targeted samples of people who use drugs and individuals who identify as gender or sexual minorities. 22,23 More recently, Salas-Wright et al 24 and Davis et al 25 have characterized people who use hallucinogens (including ecstasy/MDMA), although these studies evaluated lifetime use; examining more recent use may allow for better examination of potential correlates of more recent use. Furthermore, research has detected shifting sociodemographic characteristics among people who use ecstasy/MDMA.…”

Investigation of self-treatment with lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin mushrooms: Findings from the Global Drug Survey 2020

“…Our sample was predominantly white, young and educated, and although this appears to partly reflect the common demographic profile of psychedelic users ( Yockey et al, 2020 ), GDS may also disproportionately reach these populations ( Barratt et al, 2017 ). Low representation of ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals is a significant problem in psychedelic research, especially considering these populations are greatly affected by the mental conditions that any future psychedelic therapy would be used to treat ( Ortiz et al, 2022 ; Rea and Wallace, 2021 ; Williams et al, 2021 ); and recent evidence does suggest the psychedelic user population is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse ( Davis et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, those reached by the survey advertising and who choose to volunteer may have specific interests and knowledge about the topics of the survey ( Eysenbach and Wyatt, 2002 ); and for instance be better educated about optimal practices of psychedelic use, contributing to more favourable outcomes.…”