Christopher P Salas-Wright1, James C Hodges2, Audrey Hang Hai3, Abdulaziz Alsolami4, Michael G Vaughn5. 1. School of Social Work, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States. Electronic address: Christopher.Salas-Wright@bc.edu. 2. School of Social Work, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States. Electronic address: James.Hodges@bc.edu. 3. School of Social Work, Tulane University, 127 Elk Pl., New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. Electronic address: ahai@tulane.edu. 4. Department of Special Education, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: asalsolmi@kau.edu.sa. 5. Department of Special Education, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, 1 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103, United States. Electronic address: michael.vaughn@slu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Roughly one in ten American adults have used hallucinogens, and emerging evidence suggests that the prevalence of use is increasing. However, our understanding of the degree to which individuals "specialize" in the use of a particular hallucinogen or are poly-hallucinogen users remains incomplete. METHODS: This study examined data from 6381 individuals reporting past-year hallucinogen use in the 2016-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Logistic regression examined the association between the number of distinct hallucinogens used and psychosocial/behavioral risks, and latent class analysis (LCA) characterized subgroups of hallucinogen users. RESULTS: The vast majority of hallucinogen users, roughly 70%, are not "specialists" who use only one hallucinogen type; rather, lifetime poly-hallucinogen use is the norm. Critically, however, we also see that important differences exist within the population of hallucinogen users-half (51%) could be classified as LSD-Mushroom-Ecstasy users only (this group was disproportionally comprised of youth), nearly one third (30%) were Poly-Hallucinogen users (this group was disproportionately male and non-Hispanic White), and smaller proportions were limited primarily to use of LSD-Mushrooms (6%; these individuals were almost exclusively ages 35 and older) or Ecstasy Only (12%; these individuals were mostly younger adults ages 18-34). CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide a fresh contribution to our understanding of poly-hallucinogen use in a time in which local and state governmental leaders, and people across the country, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing specific hallucinogenic drugs.
BACKGROUND: Roughly one in ten American adults have used hallucinogens, and emerging evidence suggests that the prevalence of use is increasing. However, our understanding of the degree to which individuals "specialize" in the use of a particular hallucinogen or are poly-hallucinogen users remains incomplete. METHODS: This study examined data from 6381 individuals reporting past-year hallucinogen use in the 2016-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Logistic regression examined the association between the number of distinct hallucinogens used and psychosocial/behavioral risks, and latent class analysis (LCA) characterized subgroups of hallucinogen users. RESULTS: The vast majority of hallucinogen users, roughly 70%, are not "specialists" who use only one hallucinogen type; rather, lifetime poly-hallucinogen use is the norm. Critically, however, we also see that important differences exist within the population of hallucinogen users-half (51%) could be classified as LSD-Mushroom-Ecstasy users only (this group was disproportionally comprised of youth), nearly one third (30%) were Poly-Hallucinogen users (this group was disproportionately male and non-Hispanic White), and smaller proportions were limited primarily to use of LSD-Mushrooms (6%; these individuals were almost exclusively ages 35 and older) or Ecstasy Only (12%; these individuals were mostly younger adults ages 18-34). CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide a fresh contribution to our understanding of poly-hallucinogen use in a time in which local and state governmental leaders, and people across the country, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing specific hallucinogenic drugs.
Authors: Brittany Killion; Audrey Hang Hai; Abdulaziz Alsolami; Michael G Vaughn; P Sehun Oh; Christopher P Salas-Wright Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 4.492