Perceived risk of LSD use in the United States from 2015-2019: Are Americans more realistically assessing LSD’s risks?

Abstract

Most Americans perceive lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to be a high-risk drug, despite infrequent serious adverse events associated with its use. Though LSD use is rising in the United States, little is known about whether perceived risk of LSD (prLSD) is changing or factors influencing prLSD. Using National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from 2015–2019, we investigated correlates of and temporal trends in prLSD. On multivariable modeling for respondents 18 years of age and older, lower prLSD was associated with, among other factors, later survey year, personal LSD use, younger age, higher education level, male gender, identifying as a sexual minority, having less self-influential religious beliefs, and past year psychological distress. Higher prLSD was associated with identifying as Black or Hispanic, past year suicide attempt, and having children in the home. From 2015–2019, there was a statistically significant linear decreasing trend in proportion of respondents who perceived “great” risk in trying LSD [from 70.5–64.8%; (p < 0.0001)]. Our findings regarding prLSD and race/ethnicity could have important implications for acceptability of psychedelic therapy by Black and Hispanic patients. While we observed multiple important differences in prLSD among subgroups, overall prLSD amongst Americans may be falling to a level more accurately reflecting LSD’s actual risk profile.