The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects

Malin Vedoy Uthaug; Alan K. Davis; Trevor Forrest Haas; Dawn Davis; Sean B. Dolan; Rafael Lancelotta; Christopher Timmermann; Johannes G. Ramaekers

doi:10.1177/02698811211013583

The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects

Malin Vedoy Uthaug^*, Alan K. Davis, Trevor Forrest Haas, Dawn Davis, Sean B. Dolan, Rafael Lancelotta, Christopher Timmermann, Johannes G. Ramaekers^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background:

Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychoactive phenethylamine found in several cacti and historically used ceremonially by Indigenous and Latin American populations. Broader recognition of its possible therapeutic value in Western science began in the 1950s; however, knowledge of the safety profile of mescaline and the extent of its use remains limited. The primary aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of mescaline use among English-speaking adults.

Methods:

About 452 respondents completed a web-based survey designed to assess their previous experience with mescaline (subjective effects, outcome measures, and mescaline type used).

Results:

Most respondents reported that they had consumed mescaline infrequently (67%) reported improvements in these conditions following their most memorable experience with mescaline.

Conclusion:

Findings indicate that the mescaline in any form may produce a psychedelic experience that is associated with the spiritual significance and improvements in the mental health with low potential for abuse.

Original language	English
Article number	02698811211013583
Pages (from-to)	309-320
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Psychopharmacology
Volume	36
Issue number	3
Early online date	5 May 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211013583
Publication status	Published - Mar 2022

Keywords

Mescaline
3
4
5-trimethoxyphenethylamine
epidemiology
survey
RECEPTOR INTERACTION PROFILES
LYSERGIC-ACID DIETHYLAMIDE
EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRE
PEYOTE USE
HALLUCINOGENS
PSILOCYBIN
PSYCHEDELICS
PERSONALITY
BEHAVIOR

Access to Document

10.1177/02698811211013583Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Uthaug, M. V., Davis, A. K., Haas, T. F., Davis, D., Dolan, S. B., Lancelotta, R., Timmermann, C., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2022). The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(3), 309-320. Article 02698811211013583. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211013583

@article{175b66bae7b241fba56e3d21d640b053,

title = "The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects",

abstract = "Background:Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychoactive phenethylamine found in several cacti and historically used ceremonially by Indigenous and Latin American populations. Broader recognition of its possible therapeutic value in Western science began in the 1950s; however, knowledge of the safety profile of mescaline and the extent of its use remains limited. The primary aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of mescaline use among English-speaking adults.Methods:About 452 respondents completed a web-based survey designed to assess their previous experience with mescaline (subjective effects, outcome measures, and mescaline type used).Results:Most respondents reported that they had consumed mescaline infrequently (67%) reported improvements in these conditions following their most memorable experience with mescaline.Conclusion:Findings indicate that the mescaline in any form may produce a psychedelic experience that is associated with the spiritual significance and improvements in the mental health with low potential for abuse.",

keywords = "Mescaline, 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, epidemiology, survey, RECEPTOR INTERACTION PROFILES, LYSERGIC-ACID DIETHYLAMIDE, EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRE, PEYOTE USE, HALLUCINOGENS, PSILOCYBIN, PSYCHEDELICS, PERSONALITY, BEHAVIOR",

author = "Uthaug, {Malin Vedoy} and Davis, {Alan K.} and Haas, {Trevor Forrest} and Dawn Davis and Dolan, {Sean B.} and Rafael Lancelotta and Christopher Timmermann and Ramaekers, {Johannes G.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Effort for AKD and SBD was provided by an NIDA training grant (#T32DA07209), and AKD received support from Tim Ferriss, Matt Mullenweg, Craig Nerenberg, Blake Mycoskie, and the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1177/02698811211013583",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "309--320",

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Uthaug, MV, Davis, AK, Haas, TF, Davis, D, Dolan, SB, Lancelotta, R, Timmermann, C & Ramaekers, JG 2022, 'The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects', Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 36, no. 3, 02698811211013583, pp. 309-320. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211013583

The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects. / Uthaug, Malin Vedoy; Davis, Alan K.; Haas, Trevor Forrest et al.
In: Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 36, No. 3, 02698811211013583, 03.2022, p. 309-320.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Davis, Alan K.

AU - Haas, Trevor Forrest

AU - Davis, Dawn

AU - Dolan, Sean B.

AU - Lancelotta, Rafael

AU - Timmermann, Christopher

AU - Ramaekers, Johannes G.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Effort for AKD and SBD was provided by an NIDA training grant (#T32DA07209), and AKD received support from Tim Ferriss, Matt Mullenweg, Craig Nerenberg, Blake Mycoskie, and the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

PY - 2022/3

Y1 - 2022/3

N2 - Background:Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychoactive phenethylamine found in several cacti and historically used ceremonially by Indigenous and Latin American populations. Broader recognition of its possible therapeutic value in Western science began in the 1950s; however, knowledge of the safety profile of mescaline and the extent of its use remains limited. The primary aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of mescaline use among English-speaking adults.Methods:About 452 respondents completed a web-based survey designed to assess their previous experience with mescaline (subjective effects, outcome measures, and mescaline type used).Results:Most respondents reported that they had consumed mescaline infrequently (67%) reported improvements in these conditions following their most memorable experience with mescaline.Conclusion:Findings indicate that the mescaline in any form may produce a psychedelic experience that is associated with the spiritual significance and improvements in the mental health with low potential for abuse.

AB - Background:Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychoactive phenethylamine found in several cacti and historically used ceremonially by Indigenous and Latin American populations. Broader recognition of its possible therapeutic value in Western science began in the 1950s; however, knowledge of the safety profile of mescaline and the extent of its use remains limited. The primary aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of mescaline use among English-speaking adults.Methods:About 452 respondents completed a web-based survey designed to assess their previous experience with mescaline (subjective effects, outcome measures, and mescaline type used).Results:Most respondents reported that they had consumed mescaline infrequently (67%) reported improvements in these conditions following their most memorable experience with mescaline.Conclusion:Findings indicate that the mescaline in any form may produce a psychedelic experience that is associated with the spiritual significance and improvements in the mental health with low potential for abuse.

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