Perceived Availability of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in the United States from 2015 to 2019

Between 2015 and 2019, about 13% of U.S. respondents reported that LSD was fairly or very easy to obtain, based on a national survey of 281,464 people. Perceived availability increased slightly over the period, especially among males, bisexual individuals, those with past-year serious psychological distress, people with hallucinogen use disorder, and those who saw trying LSD as lower risk. Factors linked to higher perceived availability included being bisexual, having higher education, and lifetime use of alcohol, marijuana, or hallucinogens. Older age and identifying as Asian or Black were linked to lower perceived availability. Identifying as Black was associated with a decreasing trend in perceived availability.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objective: While data on perceived availability of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) [paLSD] are collected annually in the United States, detailed investigations of recent trends in paLSD have not been published. Therefore, we sought to explore this topic. Method: Data were sourced from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) administrations. To identify factors associated with paLSD, exploratory multivariable models were constructed for respondents aged 12–17 (adolescents) and for respondents 18 and older (adults). Trends in paLSD among the whole sample and subpopulations were investigated. Results: Among 281,464 respondents, 13.1% reported LSD was “fairly” or “very easy” to obtain. In adults, higher paLSD was associated with identifying as bisexual, experiencing past year serious psychological distress, higher education, and lifetime use of alcohol, marijuana, or hallucinogens. Negative associations included older age, identifying as Asian or Black, and lifetime stimulant use. In adolescents, unique associations included lower paLSD among males and Hispanic individuals, and higher paLSD with lifetime stimulant use. A small but statistically significant increase in paLSD was observed over the study period, especially among subgroups such as males, bisexual respondents, respondents reporting past year serious psychological distress, and those with hallucinogen use disorder or lower perceived risk of trying LSD. Identifying as Black was associated with a decreasing trend. Conclusions: While LSD remains widely perceived as difficult to obtain, paLSD is increasing among several subpopulations. Monitoring these trends and identifying associated characteristics may inform targeted harm reduction efforts and public health messaging.