The Prevalence of Hallucinogen Consumption Among Lifetime Users in the United States Differs As a Function of Race, Ethnicity, and Biological Sex

Background and Purpose: Examine race, ethnic, and sex differences in the prevalence of hallucinogen consumption among lifetime hallucinogen users in the United States. Methods: Data came from the 2015-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; N=32,863; female=46%; Black=6%; Native American=2%; Pacific Islander=<1%; Asian=2%; Multiracial=5%; Hispanic=12%). Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted with weighted data. Results: Among those that reported ever using hallucinogens, most people reported lifetime psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use. The highest prevalence of past year hallucinogen use was among Asian males/females (24%-25%) and Pacific Islander females (27%), which was two-or more times larger than the prevalence of past year use among White males/females and Native American males. Approximately 7%-12% of Black, Asian, and Multiracial males, and Pacific Islander and Asian females, reported past month hallucinogen use, which was at least two-to-three times larger than proportions in White males/females, and Native American and Pacific Islander males. Between 2015-2018 there was a decreasing trend in past year hallucinogen use among Pacific Islander males/females and Asian females. There was an increasing trend in past year use among Native American females. Black, Asian, and Multiracial people had an increased odds of past-year (ORs=1.22-2.04; ps<.05) and past-month (ORs=1.48-1.93; ps<.05) hallucinogen use compared to White people. Women had lower odds of past-year (OR=0.85; ps<.05), past-month (OR=0.85; ps<.05), and lifetime use of all hallucinogens (ORs=0.53-0.72; ps<.05) compared to males, except for lifetime use of MDMA (OR=1.29; ps<.05). Conclusions and Implications: These data should be used to inform public health initiatives regarding the potential benefits and risks of hallucinogen use among racial/ethnic minorities and women.