The bad trip: An epidemiological survey of youthful hallucinogen use

Results are presented of a self-administered questionnaire completed by 201 youthful hallucinogen users. It was found that 55.5% of the population experienced at least one bad trip, although not one of these 111 subjects sought medical help. Investigation of the subject's family, drug-use pattern, mood, and environment revealed no clear-cut predisposing factors toward an adverse drug experience. While a significant correlation existed between a high level of cigarette consumption and a certain type of drug user, the number of different drugs used by the subjects was the only variable which positively correlated with the occurrence of a bad trip. Multiple stepwise regression indicated that over the period from 1965 to 1973 a change has taken place in the sample studied, such that today a young person introduced to hallucinogens is likely to take a greater number of drugs and is more likely to experience a bad trip than was his chronological conterpart of 1965.M.D. 1955 and Med. D.Sc. 1962: State University of New York. Presently Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, New York University. Current interests are in genetic-environmental interactions in the production of psychopathology.M.D. 1975: University of Connecticut. Presently first year resident in psychiatry, Yale Univeristy. Main research interests include potential biological correlates of psychological existential metatheory.