European Addiction Research
January 1, 2020
Franz Moggi, Deborah Schorno, Leila M. Soravia et al.
22 citations
Young men with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms at age 20 are more likely to start using certain substances and develop alcohol use disorder by age 25, even after accounting for conduct disorder and sensation seeking. ADHD predicted the initiation of hallucinogens, meth-/amphetamines, ecstasy/MDMA, non-medical use of ADHD medication and sedatives, and alcohol use disorder, but not alcohol or smoking initiation. No escalation of weekly drinking, smoking, or annual cannabis use occurred between ages 20 and 25. Identifying ADHD in early adulthood may help target interventions to reduce later drug use and alcohol problems.
Journal of Substance Use
January 20, 2016
Stéphanie Baggio, Stanislas Spilka, Joseph Studer et al.
9 citations
Among French 17-year-olds, patterns of illicit drug use fall into two distinct groups: one including amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, magic mushrooms, poppers, and solvents; the other including crack, GHB, heroin, LSD, and ketamine. Trajectories typically involve the first group before the second. Preventive efforts should target early teens, as very young users are more likely to progress to illicit drug use. The findings suggest that future studies should distinguish these two groups rather than lumping all illicit drugs together.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 6, 2019
Ansgar Rougemont-Bücking, Henrik Jungaberle, Milan Scheidegger et al.
6 citations
Among 4,475 young adult men in Switzerland, those who used psychedelics in the past year showed no significant difference in mental health (depressive symptoms, overall mental health, perceived stress, life satisfaction) compared to those who used no drugs. In contrast, users of MDMA, psychostimulants, and cannabis had poorer mental health. These effects were influenced by stressful life events and past family functioning. The findings suggest that some men may use substances to cope with life adversity, and the lack of a negative mental health association with psychedelics warrants further research in both men and women.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2022
Marianthi Lousiana Deligianni, Joseph Studer, Gerhard Gmel et al.
1 citation
Among 2,796 young Swiss men who had used substances, 32.2% reported at least one type of substance-induced consciousness alteration: 20.5% experienced ego dissolution, 16.7% visual pseudo-hallucinations, and 14.6% anxiety or paranoia. Former and current use of psychedelics and ketamine was linked to all three types and to a positive perceived influence on life. Associations with other substances were less consistent and not statistically significant. Sociability was negatively associated with all three alterations; anxiety-neuroticism was positively associated with ego dissolution and anxiety/paranoia; aggression-hostility with anxiety/paranoia; and sensation seeking with ego dissolution and visual pseudo-hallucinations. The findings suggest psychedelics can induce consciousness alterations perceived as beneficial, even in street-drug users.