Evidence for a hallucinogen dependence syndrome developing soon after onset of hallucinogen use during adolescence

Among recent-onset hallucinogen users aged 12 to 21, a small minority (2%) showed a pattern resembling a hallucinogen dependence syndrome, while 88% expressed few or no clinical features of dependence. A further 10% may be at risk or in an early stage of dependence. Susceptibility to rapid transition from first use to dependence syndrome appeared to be influenced by the specific hallucinogenic compound taken: users of MDMA had an estimated relative risk of 2.4 compared to users of LSD. Excess risk did not appear to depend on age, sex, or race/ethnicity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This study uses latent class methods and multiple regression to shed light on hypothesized hallucinogen dependence syndromes experienced by young people who have recently initiated hallucinogen use. It explores possible variation in risk. The study sample, identified within public‐use data files of the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), consists of 1186 recent‐onset hallucinogen users, defined as having initiated hallucinogen use within 24 months of assessment (median elapsed time since onset of use ∼12 to 13 months). The recent‐onset users in this sample were age 12 to 21 at the time of assessment and were between the ages of 10 and 21 at the time of their first hallucinogen use. The NHSDA included items to assess seven clinical features often associated with hallucinogen dependence, which were used in latent class modelling. Latent class analysis, in conjunction with prior theory, supports a three‐class solution, with 2% of recent‐onset users in a class that resembles a hallucinogen dependence syndrome, whereas 88% expressed few or no clinical features of dependence. The remaining 10% may reflect users who are at risk for dependence or in an early stage of dependence. Results from latent class regressions indicate that susceptibility to rapid transition from first hallucinogen use to onset of this hallucinogen dependence syndrome might be influenced by hallucinogenic compounds taken (for example, estimated relative risk, RR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.6, 7.6 for users of MDMA versus users of LSD). Excess risk of rapid transition did not appear to depend upon age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.