Annals of emergency medicine
December 1, 2024
Mark W Simon, Heather A Olsen, Christopher O Hoyte et al.
12 citations
Over half of psychedelic exposures reported to US poison centers resulted in symptoms that required treatment, severe residual or prolonged symptoms, or death. From 2012 to 2022, 54,605 cases were recorded, with hallucinogenic mushroom exposures rising most sharply from 593 to 1,440. Cardiovascular effects were common, especially with hallucinogenic amphetamines (31.1%). Among patients managed in healthcare facilities, 62.4% received medical therapies, including sedation (32.9%) and respiratory interventions (10.3%). Concomitant exposures occurred in 41.1% of cases. Increasing psychedelic use may lead to more adverse events and healthcare utilization.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
August 1, 2024
Richard C Dart
9 citations
Ketamine and esketamine, though pharmacologically similar, differ sharply in misuse patterns due to their regulation and availability. Ketamine, with few restrictions and wide availability including as an illicit drug, shows increasing misuse and abuse. Esketamine, despite rising use, has rigorous prescribing restrictions and is difficult to detect in postmarket surveillance, with no increase in misuse. This natural experiment suggests that regulatory controls, not pharmacology, limit misuse. The findings call for reevaluating ketamine's regulation and offer lessons for introducing new psychedelics.
Annals of emergency medicine
June 30, 2025
Joshua C Black, Karilynn M Rockhill, Evelyn J Fox et al.
4 citations
About one-third of US adults who used psychedelics in the past year traveled out of state to do so, primarily to Colorado and Oregon, which have decriminalized natural psychedelics. Travelers were more likely than nontravelers to report anxiety or depression symptoms and to have visited an emergency department or urgent care for a psychedelic-related issue. They were also more likely to use psychedelics for medical symptoms, at healing centers, or at ceremonial sites. Emergency physicians in both legalized and nonlegal states should be aware that travel for psychedelic use is common and may carry risks of adverse outcomes.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
March 16, 2026
Faith E Lyons, Karilynn M Rockhill, Evelyn J Fox et al.
Adults who used a psychedelic in the past year most prefer surveys that use specific substance names (e.g., psilocybin, ayahuasca) over umbrella terms. In a cross-sectional survey of 2,306 respondents, specific substance names received the highest preference (median rank 3; 24.3% ranked first), followed by "psychedelics" (median rank 3; 19.4%). Terms like "hallucinogen," "medicines," and "entheogens" ranked lower. Preferences were consistent across age, education, and experience levels. The findings offer recommendations for terminology in future survey development.