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Facts at a Glance

Here’s what you need to know about the rising use of psychedelics, the risks involved, and the changing legal landscape.

Psychedelic Usage Statistics

9%

9% of adults 19 to 30 and 4% of adults 35 to 50 used psychedelics in 2023.  These included LSD, mescaline, peyote, shrooms or psilocybin and PCP.

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73%

Of those who report using psychedelics, 73% of psychedelic use is recreational.

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266%

266% increase in hallucinogen use since 2012, due in large part to media coverage and policy reform campaigns.

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Response to Psychedelic Usage

24+

Over two dozen localities have deprioritized criminal enforcement of psychedelics. Two states – Oregon and Colorado – have passed ballot measures decriminalizing psilocybin and are setting up regulatory therapeutic frameworks for access and use.

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273%

A recent NIH study reported a 273% increase in police confiscation of psilocybin mushrooms since 2017, an indicator of skyrocketing street availability.

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54%

California saw a 54% increase in hallucinogen-related Emergency Room visits and 55% increase in hallucinogen- associated hospitalizations between 2016 and 2022.

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Psychedelic Effects in Numbers

52%

​52% of psychedelic users report having an intensely challenging experience.  Of those reporting, 45% thought no good had come of it.

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8.9%

8.9% of psychedelic experiences led to functional impairment lasting longer than a day. 2.6% reported seeking professional help in the days or weeks following their most challenging experience. 6.7% considered harming themselves or others. 

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33%

1/3 of those with challenging experiences reported difficulties lasting longer than one year. 1/6 reported difficulties persisting longer than three years. These include feelings of anxiety and fear, social disconnection, existential confusion, derealization, depersonalization, and cognitive and perceptual difficulties.

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