Patterns of use, desired effects, and mental health status of a sample of natural psychoactive drug users
Marc Aixalà, Genís Ona, Òscar Parés, José Carlos Bouso
Drugs Education Prevention and Policy May 7, 2019 DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2019.1611739 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA survey of 564 natural psychoactive drug (NPD) users from 52 countries found that the typical user is a well-educated adult who uses these substances sporadically. Psilocybe mushrooms (88.5%) and ayahuasca (51%) were the most used. Users reported positive life influences and good mental health. The authors argue that NPDs differ from synthetic new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in safety and use patterns, and should not be legally classified together with NPSs.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 564 |
| Population | Natural psychoactive drug users recruited online from 52 countries |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Sample material Psychoactive substance Psychology Medicine |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Natural psychoactive drug users are typically well-educated adults who use substances like psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca sporadically, report positive life impacts, and have good mental health, suggesting NPDs should not be classified with synthetic NPSs. |
Abstract
In recent years, the use of natural psychoactive drugs (NPDs) has grown rapidly. They are classified as new psychoactive substances (NPSs), despite the reality that they have been used for centuries. We are lacking information regarding patterns of use or characteristics of users, but some evidence suggests that NPDs substantially differ from NPSs in terms of both their safety profile and patterns of use. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of use and user characteristics by collecting data from a sample of NPD users. We designed an online questionnaire that was shared through social media. A sample of 564 NPD users was recruited from 52 different countries, with the United States being the most common (19%), followed by Spain (14.9%). The typical user in our sample is a well-educated adult individual who uses NPDs sporadically. The most used substances were Psilocybe mushrooms (88.5%) and ayahuasca (51%). Users reported that the use of NPDs positively influenced their lives, and they showed a good mental health status. Stakeholders should consider these results particularly when deciding on legal classifications for these substances, as the study findings suggest that NPDs should not be in the same class as NPSs.