Mushroom Use by College Students
Journal of Drug Education – June 01, 1985
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Among 1507 college students, over 85% of those reporting hallucinogen use had tried psilocybin mushrooms. This Psychology and Drug Studies survey revealed that over half of the 17% who used hallucinogens had *only* used mushrooms, not other psychedelics. This highlights psilocybin's unique prevalence in experimental use. Insights into such patterns, relevant for fields from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies to Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, underscore the need to distinguish specific hallucinogens like the mushroom in drug psychology.
Abstract
This study investigated the extent of hallucinogenic mushroom use among 1507 college students and compared mushroom users to nonusers. The subjects, who completed an anonymous questionnaire, were students from California State University, Northridge, and the University of California, Los Angeles. The major finding was that among the respondents who reported use of hallucinogenic drugs (17%), over 85 percent had used hallucinogenic (psilocybin) mushrooms and over half had used mushrooms but no other hallucinogens. The data suggest a high level of experimental use compared to other hallucinogens. Survey research into hallucinogenic mushroom use should be extended, and mushroom use should be distinguished from use of other hallucinogens.