Hopelessness, Suicidality, and Co-Occurring Substance Use among Adolescent Hallucinogen Users—A National Survey Study
Children December 22, 2022 Saral Desai, Vidisha Jain, Sona Xavier et al.
Among a nationally representative sample of 125,550 US adolescents surveyed between 2001 and 2019, 8.4% reported using hallucinogens. The prevalence of hallucinogen use decreased from 13.3% in 2001 to 7.0% in 2019. Adolescents who used hallucinogens had higher odds of feeling sad and hopeless, considering suicide, and planning suicide. They also showed a higher prevalence of using other substances, including alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine. The findings indicate an association between adolescent hallucinogen use and increased hopelessness, suicidality, and co-occurring substance use.