LSD use among US high school students

A large annual survey of over half a million U.S. junior and senior high school students in 1993 found that hallucinogen use rose slightly from 4.9% to 5.3% compared to the previous year. Among hallucinogen users, 83% reported typically getting high or stoned, a higher proportion than among beer drinkers (24%), marijuana smokers (66%), or cocaine users (74%). The authors suggest many young people view cocaine as very dangerous but see LSD as spiritually uplifting; 55% of seniors believed trying LSD a few times is not harmful.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To the Editor. —We have recently presented data 1 from our annual survey of 522 328 junior and senior school students from schools across the United States. This anonymous questionnaire on the prevalence of drug use was administered to all junior and senior students attending home rooms in these schools in 1993, and results were compared with 1992. Hallucinogen use increased significantly ( P t test), from 4.9% to 5.3%. Also, 83% of hallucinogen users reported most often getting high or bombed/stoned when they used hallucinogens, as compared with 24% of beer drinkers, 66% of marijuana smokers, and 74% of cocaine users. Our experience suggests that many young people believe that cocaine is very dangerous. However, these same young students appear to believe that LSD is spiritually uplifting. In our survey, 55% of school seniors believed that trying LSD a few times is not harmful. These data