medRxiv Preprint Server
May 23, 2026
Lisa Maria Jöbstl, Bente Lubahn, Ebru Kaya et al.
preprint
A subset of individuals who use classic psychedelics outside clinical settings reports persisting adverse effects, including hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, depersonalization/derealization disorder, anxiety, and depression. Despite growing non-clinical use, few medical services are equipped to address these complications. The authors highlight a delay in attention to these persisting adverse effects relative to enthusiasm for therapeutic potential.
The International journal on drug policy
April 1, 2022
Antonia Bendau, Leonard Viohl, Moritz Bruno Petzold et al.
During the early COVID-19 pandemic, use of party drugs (stimulants, dissociatives, GHB/GBL) shifted substantially. Among 1,231 users surveyed, 48.0–64.8% ceased or decreased use, 11.9–25.5% maintained, and 23.6–29.1% increased consumption. MDMA/ecstasy showed the strongest decrease; GHB/GBL and dissociatives the highest increase. Price, quality, and supply remained mostly unaffected. Mood-related motivations (e.g., feeling exhilarated or high) were common before and during the pandemic, but social and mood-related reasons declined while coping with boredom rose. 16.4–35.6% found drug use helpful for pandemic-related stressors, which was linked to increased consumption. The findings suggest that users who increased use as a coping strategy may need targeted preventive measures.