Trends in first-time psychedelic and other hallucinogen use in the United States: Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Drug and alcohol dependence May 1, 2026 Juan Carlos C Montoy, Ralph C Wang, Allison R Coker et al.
From 2002 to 2019, first-time use of any hallucinogen among US civilians aged 12 and older averaged 0.71% per year, with a small but statistically significant increase (odds ratio 1.009 per year). New use decreased among 12- to 17-year-olds (OR 0.96) and increased among those 65 and older (OR 1.56). LSD showed a notable rise (OR 1.08 per year), while psilocybin and MDMA did not. From 2021 to 2023, 0.79% reported new hallucinogen use, with no overall change (OR 0.97). Patterns of first-time use vary by substance and age group, with adolescents using less and older adults using more.