Psychedelic use in India, its pattern and personal significance – findings from an online survey
Indian Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 2022 Gokul Raj 3 citations
An online survey of 49 Indian psychedelic users found LSD was the most popular substance (93.9%), followed by psilocybin mushrooms (75.5%) and DMT (36.7%). The average age of first use was 22.4 years. Most participants (75.5%) researched the substance beforehand, and the main reasons for trying psychedelics were personality development (38.7%), curiosity (36.7%), and spiritual reasons (30.6%). Mystical Experience Questionnaire scores averaged 117 out of 150, indicating profound mystical experiences. Challenging experiences included heart racing, crying, isolation, and fear. Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder occurred in 4.08% of the sample. The authors note that established questionnaires may not fully capture subjective experiences in an Indian context, calling for more qualitative research.