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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — More and more Americans are trying to tap into a different frame of mind, according to researchers from the University of Michigan and Columbia University. Scientists report that the use of non-LSD hallucinogens in the United States nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021 among young adults under the age of 30.

“While non-LSD hallucinogen use remains substantially less prevalent than use of substances such as alcohol and cannabis, a doubling of prevalence in just three years is a dramatic increase and raises possible public health concerns. The increase in non-LSD hallucinogen use occurred while LSD use remained stable at around 4% in 2018 and 2021,” says study co-author Megan Patrick, research professor in the Survey Research Center at U-M’s Institute for Social Research and co-principal investigator of the Monitoring the Future study, in a university release.

This project’s findings come from the Monitoring the Future study, conducted by a team of professors at the U-M Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. During the Monitoring the Future panel study, annual samples of 12th grade students are tracked into adulthood. The study focuses specifically on overall health and substance abuse.

Study authors assessed the use of hallucinogens by sex, discovering that the use of non-LSD hallucinogens was greater among young men. They also noted that White young adults tended to use hallucinogens at a higher rate than Black young adults. Non-LSD hallucinogen use was also higher among those whose parents had a college education — which scientists consider a proxy for socioeconomic status.

While Monitoring the Future did not identify whether young adults were using these drugs recreationally or because they believed their use held some kind of therapeutic benefit, previous research suggests that non-medical hallucinogen use has a connection to substance use disorders, injury including self-harm, and anxiety.

“The use of psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs for a range of therapeutic uses is increasing, given accumulating yet still preliminary data from randomized trials on clinical effectiveness,” explains Katherine Keyes, professor of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School and lead author of the study. “With increased visibility for medical and therapeutic use, however, potentially comes diversion and unregulated product availability, as well as a lack of understanding among the public of potential risks.”

The survey did not investigate if young adults used non-LSD hallucinogens for a therapeutic or medical reason.

“However, approved therapeutic use of psychedelics under a trained health professional’s care remains uncommon in the U.S., thus the trends we observe here are undoubtedly in nonmedical and nontherapeutic use,” Prof. Keyes adds.

Each survey asked respondents “How often in the past 12 months have you used LSD?” Participants were also asked if they had used any hallucinogens other than LSD (mescaline, peyote, “shrooms” or psilocybin, or PCP). Responses to those questions varied greatly, from none to 40 times or more. Among non-LSD drugs listed, young adults most frequently used “shrooms” — which researchers also refer to as magic mushrooms or psilocybin.

“The use of hallucinogens other than LSD, such as psilocybin in so-called ‘shrooms,’ has increased among young adults in the U.S. This is a rising concern for young adult health,” Prof. Patrick concludes. “We will continue to track these trends to see if the increases continue. We need additional research, including about the motives for hallucinogen use and how young adults are using these substances, in order to be able to mitigate the associated negative consequences.”

The study is published in the journal Addiction.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Even though possessing and using “magic mushrooms” has been decriminalized by a number of cities and states, it doesn’t mean it’s still safe to consume to get high. This policy shift has led to a noticeable increase in psilocybin-related incidents among adolescents and young adults, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The findings, which draws on data from the National Poison Data System, point to a significant rise in calls to poison centers involving psilocybin usage by teens and young adults between the years 2018 and 2022.

Before the decriminalization efforts that started in May 2019, the number of psilocybin-related calls had remained largely unchanged from 2013 to 2018. However, following the policy changes in places such as Oregon, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Detroit, and Seattle, there was a marked increase in these incidents. For teenagers 13 to 19, the calls more than tripled, jumping from 152 to 464. Among adults 20 to 25, the calls more than doubled, going from 125 to 294 in the same period.

“It is markedly concerning to me that children are gaining access to these products,” says study author Dr. Christopher Holstege, director of UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center and chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the UVA School of Medicine, in a media release.

“We have limited data on the potential long-term consequences on the developing brains of children when exposed to such compounds that impact the brain’s neurotransmission. We also do not understand fully why some individuals have markedly adverse complications to psilocybin, known as ‘bad trips,’ that can lead to harm to the individual taking or others who may be victims of violent behavior.”

The study revealed that the majority of calls were due to intentional consumption, with males making up about 75 percent of these incidents. A significant portion of the affected individuals required medical attention after exposure to psilocybin, which can cause hallucinations, agitation, rapid heart rate, and confusion. The drug’s powerful psychological effects can also lead to anxiety, disorientation, and even more severe outcomes like accidents or self-harm.

Despite the legal changes, the use of psilocybin remains prohibited for those under 21 years-old in the decriminalized locations, a fact the researchers find “particularly alarming” given the rise in incidents among young people.

“As psilocybin may become more widely available, it is important for parents to be aware that psilocybin is also available in edible forms such as chocolate and gummies,” notes study author Dr. Rita Farah, an epidemiologist at the Blue Ridge Poison Center epidemiologist. “And we learned from our experience with edible cannabis that young children can mistake edibles for candy.”

Medical professionals are underscoring the need for caution and education as psilocybin becomes more accessible. The Blue Ridge Poison Center urges anyone experiencing an adverse reaction to psilocybin or any other substance to seek immediate assistance by calling their 24-hour helpline at 800-222-1222.

This research not only highlights the immediate concerns associated with psilocybin use among young people but also raises questions about the long-term implications of drug decriminalization policies on public health.

The study is published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.