The American journal on addictions
August 1, 2016
Joseph J Palamar, Monica J Barratt, Jason A Ferris et al.
49 citations
Nearly half (46.4%) of a self-selected sample of US nightclub attendees reported lifetime use of at least one new psychoactive substance (NPS). Synthetic cannabinoids were the most common (24.8%), followed by tryptamines (23.0%), psychedelic phenethylamines (21.7%), euphoric stimulants (16.2%), and synthetic cathinones (10.5%). Females and older respondents (ages 22-60) had lower odds of any NPS use. Frequent nightclub attendance, especially weekly versus less than once a month, was linked to higher odds of NPS use overall. The authors suggest harm reduction initiatives are needed for this population, where environmental factors may amplify risks from lesser-known substances.
Drug and alcohol review
July 1, 2022
Monica J Barratt, Alexia Maddox, Naomi Smith et al.
19 citations
About 5.3% of respondents in a large international survey reported using binaural beats to experience altered states, with higher rates in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. Younger age and non-male gender predicted use, as did recent use of cannabis, psychedelics, and novel drugs. Most users listened to relax or fall asleep (72.2%) or change their mood (34.7%), while 11.7% sought effects similar to those of other drugs—a motivation more common among classic psychedelic users (16.5% vs. 7.9%). Users primarily accessed binaural beats via video streaming sites on mobile phones.
Psychopharmacology
May 1, 2022
Sam Craft, Jason A Ferris, Monica J Barratt et al.
19 citations
People who frequently use synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) experience a distinct withdrawal syndrome, with sleep problems, irritability, and low mood being the most common symptoms. Among 284 frequent users who had tried to quit, an average of 4.4 withdrawal symptoms occurred after just one day without use. Greater frequency and quantity of SCRA use were linked to more withdrawal symptoms. Compared to high-potency herbal cannabis, SCRAs were rated as having a faster onset, shorter duration of effects, faster tolerance development, and more severe withdrawal. The findings suggest that SCRAs carry a greater risk of problematic use and a more severe withdrawal syndrome than natural cannabis.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
January 1, 2025
Karen P Barrios, Dean J Connolly, Jason A Ferris et al.
17 citations
Ketamine use has increased globally, particularly among young men, yet emergency medical treatment for its toxicity is rare and often linked to other substance use. Analysis of over 130,000 Global Drug Survey responses found that 5.93% had used ketamine in their lifetime, with 57.70% using it in the past year. Past-year users were typically younger (average age 24.84 years), gay, students, and used other drugs. Among 4,477 past-year users, 120 adverse events occurred, with less than 0.10% requiring emergency medical treatment. The findings indicate frequent use but low harm, highlighting the need for tailored harm reduction and comprehensive screening for substance dependence.
The International journal on drug policy
November 1, 2021
Amy Peacock, Daisy Gibbs, Olivia Price et al.
12 citations
Over one-third of Australians who regularly use illegal stimulants reported testing their drugs' contents or purity, with 86% of those using a colorimetric reagent kit. Most testing occurred within 24 hours of planned use, and 24% tested for quantity. Among those testing a substance sold as MDMA, 87% detected MDMA. People who were younger, male, used new psychoactive substances, accessed community health services for drug reasons, sold drugs, or sought peer and online information were more likely to use drug checking. The findings suggest that in the absence of government-sanctioned services, people already engage in drug checking with suboptimal tools and without professional guidance.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
January 1, 2025
Leigh Coney, Amy Peacock, Daan van der Gouwe et al.
8 citations
Drugs sold on cryptomarkets are not uniformly higher in quality than those bought offline. For MDMA tablets, MDMA powder, cocaine, and LSD, the advertised substance is more likely to be present when sourced from cryptomarkets. Strength is higher for cryptomarket MDMA powder, cocaine, and methamphetamine, but lower for MDMA tablets and amphetamine. Adulteration is less likely in cryptomarket MDMA powder and cocaine, but more likely in amphetamine and LSD. Cocaine from cryptomarkets also has fewer adulterants. The relationship between source and drug quality depends on the specific substance and market dynamics.
Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
June 7, 2025
Simon A Beck, Caine Barlow, Liam Engel et al.
4 citations
A survey of 392 people who consumed psilocybin-containing mushrooms found that 42.1% reported experiencing temporary muscle weakness, a condition called wood-lover paralysis (WLP). Onset typically occurred within 4 hours of ingestion, primarily impairing mobility (80.4%), with some reporting difficulty swallowing (26.7%) and breathing (16.6%). Symptoms persisted into the next day for 48.1% of those affected, and 21.5% experienced a fall or accident. WLP occurred across different preparation methods and growth conditions, with no significant associations with age, gender, health status, or allergies. The results suggest WLP is an under-recognized adverse outcome from certain lignicolous Psilocybe species, warranting further research and awareness for harm reduction.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
August 1, 2024
Luke Baxter, Cheneal Puljević, Tim Piatkowski et al.
3 citations
Among 3,340 first-time LSD users surveyed internationally, nearly all (97.7%) found the experience exciting, and adverse side effects were rare; only 17 individuals required emergency medical treatment. Although 64.1% reported feelings of fear, these were typically very mild and did not deter most from wanting to use LSD again. The authors conclude that while the recreational LSD experience is generally pleasurable and unwanted effects are uncommon, harm-reduction education remains important to prevent possible risks amid rising illicit use.
The International journal on drug policy
January 1, 2024
Leigh Coney, Amy Peacock, Aili Malm et al.
2 citations
People who buy MDMA, cocaine, or LSD from cryptomarkets are more likely to have no drug-using social network and to report adverse events requiring medical treatment. Among over 23,000 respondents from more than 70 countries in the 2018 Global Drug Survey, adverse events were low overall (5.2%). After controlling for age, gender, and frequency of use, recent cryptomarket use was associated with a higher likelihood of having no drug-using network for each drug. It was also linked to increased odds of adverse events for cocaine (adjusted odds ratio 1.70) and LSD (adjusted odds ratio 1.58). For those with a network larger than one person, cryptomarket use was still associated with more adverse LSD events. The findings suggest cryptomarket use may increase drug-related harm, but the complex mechanisms require further study.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
June 1, 2026
Gabrielle Smith, Timothy Piatkowski, Jason Ferris et al.
1 citation
People who self-treat psychiatric conditions with unregulated drugs often use ketamine alongside other psychedelics. Among 5831 respondents to the 2020 Global Drug Survey who self-treated diagnosed psychiatric conditions, over 60% had prior psychiatric diagnoses, most commonly depression and anxiety. Those using both ketamine and other psychedelics attended festivals and clubs more often and used ketamine more frequently. Those using only non-ketamine psychedelics showed a significant reduction in ketamine use. Nearly half sought online advice before starting ketamine self-treatment, suggesting online platforms are key for harm reduction resources.
Drug and alcohol review
May 1, 2025
Joel Keygan, Breanna Willoughby, Raimondo Bruno et al.
1 citation
Receiving a high-dose MDMA drug alert was associated with intentions to reduce or avoid the drug in a hypothetical scenario. In an online survey of Australians who had used MDMA pills or capsules in the past year, 45.4% of those shown an alert said they would not use the drug, compared to 20.7% of the control group. Among alert recipients, 46.7% said they would use and reduce their initial dose, versus 69.0% in the control group. Those who received an alert were about three times more likely to report intending not to use rather than taking a smaller dose, compared to the control group. Different phrasings of the alert did not significantly change intended behavior.
Drug and alcohol dependence
July 1, 2025
Dilara Bahceci, Krista Siefried, Maureen Steele et al.
Among 268 people who used methamphetamine, nearly half had a diagnosed mental illness and were at risk of suicide, and most had taken other substances besides methamphetamine and psychedelics. Most psychedelic experiences were unplanned, recreational, and combined with other drugs. After the experience, about 59% reported improved mood, 50% improved social functioning, and 34% reduced methamphetamine use. Planning the experience and having less challenging experiences were linked to better outcomes. The findings suggest that psychedelic use may improve mood and social function and reduce substance use in this population, but highlight the importance of context and setting.