The International journal on drug policy
August 1, 2024
Stephanie Lake, Philippe Lucas
31 citations
A large international survey of 6,379 adult psychedelic users across 85 countries found that psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA were the most commonly used substances, with personal growth as the primary motive. Regional differences emerged: ibogaine use was less common in Europe/UK and Australia/NZ than in Canada/US; frequency of use was lower in Australia/NZ; therapeutic use was less common in Europe/UK and other regions; and microdosing was more prevalent in Canada/US. Infrequent use focused on life enhancement was typical, and respondents preferred legal access through quality-controlled sources. These patterns likely reflect regional regulations and traditions.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
June 1, 2023
Stephanie Lake, Philippe Lucas
30 citations
A survey of 2045 Canadian adults (average age 38, 56% female) found that psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD are the most used psychedelic drugs. Top reasons for use are fun, self-exploration, mental well-being, and personal growth. 82% reported a lifetime intense positive psychedelic experience, and 52% reported an intense challenging experience; of those, 56% said some good came from the challenging experience afterward. Correlates of intense positive experiences include higher perceived psychedelic experience and motivations of fun and self-exploration. Correlates of intense challenging experiences include higher perceived psychedelic experience and motivations of trauma management, fun, and boredom.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2024
Nicolas G Glynos, Jacob S Aday, Daniel Kruger et al.
15 citations
A large global survey of 5,268 adults who had used psychedelics found that nearly three-quarters (70.9%) reported ceasing or decreasing use of at least one non-psychedelic substance afterward. Among those who had previously used specific substances, 60.6% decreased alcohol use, 55.7% decreased antidepressant use, and 54.2% decreased cocaine or crack use. Over a quarter said the decrease lasted 26 weeks or longer. However, 19.8% reported increased or initiated use of other substances, most commonly illicit opioids (14.7%) and cannabis (13.3%). Factors linked to decreased use included motivation to reduce substance use or self-treat a medical condition; increased use was associated with higher income and residing in Canada or the US.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 1, 2025
Stephanie Lake, Philippe Lucas
13 citations
Co-use of psychedelics with other psychoactive substances may increase health and social harm. An international survey of 5,370 adults who use psychedelics found that 56.3% typically co-use at least one of 11 psychedelic substances, with rates lowest for ayahuasca (14.8%) and highest for nitrous oxide (54.5%). Cannabis and alcohol were the most common secondary substances. Depressants were the only class whose use increased after psychedelic experiences. Greater psychedelic experience and recreational use were associated with higher co-use, while personal exploration and therapeutic use were negatively associated. Findings suggest harm reduction messaging should target specific psychedelic consumers.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 6, 2024
Rotem Petranker, Valentyn Sobolenko, Zeina Beidas et al.
9 citations
People who exclusively microdose psychedelics differ from those who also take larger doses. Exclusive microdosers are older (average 46.4 vs. 42.0 years), more often female (68.4% vs. 44.7%), non-Caucasian (25.4% vs. 14.7%), and urban residents (43.9% vs. 38.5%). They report using fewer non-psychedelic substances over their lifetime (3.8 vs. 4.7 substances). Most microdose multiple times a month (52.5%), commonly using psilocybin (74.5%), LSD (34.4%), or ketamine (15.8%), and 64.6% do not test their substances. The main reason for microdosing is improving general wellbeing (73.0%).
British Journal of Pain
February 11, 2025
Anne Baker, Stephanie Lake, Philippe Lucas et al.
7 citations
Most people with chronic pain who use psychedelics to self-treat report ceasing or decreasing their use of other substances, especially alcohol and prescription opioids. In a survey of 466 adults, 86.3% said they stopped or reduced at least one non-psychedelic substance because of psychedelic use, with 21.2% reporting the decrease lasted over 26 weeks. Alcohol (71.1%) and prescription opioids (64.1%) were most often decreased or stopped. Illicit opioids (27.8%) and cannabis (21.5%) were more likely to be increased or initiated. Psilocybin was rated the most effective psychedelic for physical and mental health symptoms. Findings suggest potential benefits and risks of naturalistic psychedelic use for chronic pain.
PloS one
January 1, 2024
Marianna Graziosi, Julia Sarah Rohde, Stephanie Lake et al.
6 citations
A short-form version of the AWE-S (AWE-SF) was developed and validated within psychedelic samples to measure awe while reducing participant burden. Across five studies, the original six-factor structure was replicated, and the 12-item AWE-SF showed strong associations with positive emotions and openness to experience. It effectively predicted both mystical-type and challenging psychedelic experiences, as well as long-term well-being outcomes like life satisfaction and psychological richness. Connection and vastness facets were linked to positive emotional states and mystical-type experience, while accommodation and self-loss were linked to negative emotional states and challenging psychedelic experience. The AWE-SF is a robust and reliable tool for measuring awe.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
April 22, 2025
Nicolas G Glynos, Mallet R Reid, Jacob S Aday et al.
4 citations
People of Color have been underrepresented in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) research, and some have suggested that systemic harms like the War on Drugs and discrimination in healthcare might reduce their willingness to participate. A large-scale survey of people using psychedelics in North America compared 3,547 White people, 448 People of Color, and 377 Multiracial people. A lower proportion of People of Color used psychedelics with a trained provider, but equal proportions had disclosed psychedelic use to primary care providers, were equally motivated to use psychedelics with a trained provider, used psychedelics for similar issues, and reported similar effectiveness. The findings suggest that lack of trust may not fully explain underrepresentation, and other barriers should be investigated.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 24, 2024
Omer A Syed, Rotem Petranker, Emily C Fewster et al.
3 citations
A strong preference for natural over synthetic sources exists among users of psilocybin (75%), DMT (56%), and mescaline (56%), based on an anonymous online survey of 6,379 consumers from 85 countries. About half of respondents (50.8%) believe the source affects a psychedelic's psychological and physiological effects, while 34.4% are neutral. Despite preferring natural sources, 67.7% would switch to synthetic alternatives if it reduced environmental harm from overharvesting. The survey's respondents came mainly from anglophone regions.
Research square
April 8, 2026
Oliver C Robinson, David Luke, Jules Evans et al.
1 citation
In a large global online survey of 6,476 people who have used psychedelics, nearly half (48.3%) reported at least one difficulty lasting 24 hours or more, and 9.9% experienced difficulties for over a year. The most common difficulties were existential struggle (36.6%), depression (34%), and derealization (29.4%). Existential struggle was rated as the most severe difficulty but also the one most linked to healing. Clinically relevant disruptive difficulties lasting at least a month and disrupting daily life were reported by 8% of participants and were associated with younger age, lower income, lack of family support, lower emotional stability, higher pre-existing anxiety or depression, and using psychedelics to treat mental health conditions. The findings highlight the need for education on risks and benefits, safety guidelines, and support services.