The use of marijuana and hallucinogens among young adults in the United States hit an all-time high in 2021, according to the National Institutes of Health.
According to self-reported data from adults aged 19 to 30 years old, usage of these drugs climbed dramatically last year compared to five and ten years before, with marijuana use reaching its highest level in this age group since these trends were first tracked in 1988.
While this does show evidence of a new generation of adults taking personal health into their own hands, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow states, “As the drug landscape shifts over time, this data provides a window into the substances and patterns of use favored by young adults. We need to know more about how young adults are using drugs like marijuana and hallucinogens, and the health effects that result from consuming different potencies and forms of these substances.”
The Kids Are Alright
The recent findings are indicative of a trend that has been coming on for some years now. In a study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry, found psychedelic drug use and marijuana reached an all-time high among young adult Americans. The findings came from a survey of more than 135,000 participants between 2006 and 2015.
As part of the survey, respondents were asked if they had used psychedelics within their lifetime or during the past year. In addition to LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms), researchers included MDMA, or ecstasy, and peyote as examples of psychedelics that could be included on this list. They also asked about respondents’ frequency of using marijuana over this same period.
Interestingly enough, most young adults who said they had used psychedelics also reported it was not something they did very often. More than half of those surveyed said their psychedelic use was limited to a few times in the past year. Only about 1% of those surveyed reported using psychedelics on a monthly basis and another 2% said they used them weekly or daily.
The Way Nature Intended
We hope this surge in natural plant medicine consumption is part of a larger shift towards holistic health and away from the pharmaceutical model. That people will continue to use these natural plant medicines as part of their holistic health strategy, and I hope they will begin using them as part of their treatment for mental health issues.
These alternatives can be much more difficult to find accurate information on, but it is possible with a little bit of research.
Why are there so few resources out there? There’s an obvious reason: Big Pharma companies don’t want you knowing about these natural remedies because they’re less profitable for them. So how do we get around this?
The best way would be to find someone who has used one before (or even better someone who has tried everything out there) and ask them about their experience with it. If you can’t find anyone like that then try searching Google or YouTube for “how to use X” or “how does X work”.
We are entering into a new era of human consciousness, one where people feel empowered by their own ability to make choices about how they want to live and what they want to experience. This is something positive because it allows us all the opportunity to explore our inner world without fear of judgment.
The rise in psychedelic drug use and marijuana among young adults is good news for those of us who believe in the power of plant medicines. Those who love to see them being used responsibly by people who have researched their uses thoroughly and not just randomly taking shrooms because they seem cool. So hey, keep doing what works for you, safely and responsibly, America’s youth — you are giving us hope for the future!
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