LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms and plants - Overview

LSD causes distortions in visual, auditory, spatial, and time perception and, for some users, in self-perception.

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Buvards de LSD

Introduction/Background

Hallucinogenic substances are found in certain plants (natural hallucinogens) or are chemically produced (synthetic hallucinogens). They cause distortions in visual, auditory, spatial, and time perception, and the user’s perception of their body. Most often, hallucinogens result in neither dependence nor tolerance, particularly due to the fact that they are used in relatively widely spaced sequences. The acute complications of their use are mainly “bad trips” or “delusions” and injuries.

The main natural hallucinogenic substances used are found in “hallucinogenic” mushrooms. These can grow in France (mainly psilocybins) or be exotic (Mexican, Hawaiian, Colombian, etc.). Hallucinogenic plants or herbal preparations such as Salvia divinorum, the most used after mushrooms, datura stramonium, ayahuasca, iboga, woodrose, or even peyote have a much smaller spread. The majority of the psychoactive ingredients in the plants, in France, are included in the list of narcotics, with the notable exception of salvinorin A, which is found in Salvia.

LSD, or lysergic acid, is a synthetic derivative of a substance produced by a mushroom (rye ergot fungus), which is more often found directly in liquid form (“drop”), or preloaded onto a blotter, for swallowing. LSD brings about intense sensory changes and causes hallucinations and a loss of perception of reality to a greater or lesser degree. The user may experience anxiety, panic attacks, or delusions. The “come-down” can also be very unpleasant, and cause deep discomfort.

There are also other hallucinogenic substances, such as ketamine, poppers, GHB-GBL and nitrous oxide. (For these substances, please see the dedicated pages).

Production/Supply

In France, hallucinogenic substances are not subject to organised or large-scale trafficking like other illicit substances.

Seizures

In France, the number of seizures and arrests for the simple use and trafficking, or use-resale, of hallucinogenic substances is very low due to the lack of structured trafficking. Therefore, the quantities seized, which see a fair share of random variation from one year to the next, are not truly representative of the presence of substances across the country. Moreover, these hallucinogenic substances are not detected by kits used during roadside checks.

A dose of LSD is acquired for around €5 per drop of liquid LSD, and €5-€10 per tab.

Use in the adolescent population

In 2022, 2.2% of high school students stated to have tried hallucinogenic mushrooms, and 1.3% LSD. These levels among high school students are down in comparison to 2018. In the 2022 Survey on Health and Drug Use on National Defence and Citizenship Day (ESCAPAD) reported lifetime use levels among the 17-year-olds are 1.1% for hallucinogenic mushrooms and 1.0% for LSD. These levels are also lower than those of the 2017 survey.

While there are no differences in the lifetime use levels of hallucinogenic mushrooms between the regions among 17-year-olds, there is however a more frequent lifetime use of LSD in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and less frequent in Normandy.

Use in the adult population

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, although their use remains low in the general adult population, are among the most used illicit substances behind cannabis for the under-30s. In 2017, only 5.3% of people aged 18-64 had used them at least once in their lifetime (8.0% of men and 2.7% of women), but this level is higher among 26-34 year-olds (9.0%), therefore reflecting a strong generational phenomenon. Use throughout the year, on the other hand, affects no more than 0.3% of 18-64 year-olds. It is highest among 18-25 year-olds (1.2%). In 2017, the lifetime use frequency of LSD in the general population was relatively low (2.7% of people aged 18-64). Again, it was the younger generation who had tried it most frequently, the most significant proportion being that observed among 26-34 year-olds (4.2%). Use in the last year only affected 0.4% of 18-64 year-olds, 1.2% of which were 18-25 years old, the age group using it the most.

In comparison with other European countries

Among young adults (15-34 year-olds), the data available at European level provides estimates of the prevalence of LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms for the last year, which are equal or less than 1% for the two substances. The exceptions to this rule are Finland (2.0% in 2018), Estonia (1.6% in 2018, 16-34 year-olds), and the Netherlands (1.1% in 2019) for hallucinogenic mushrooms, and Finland (2.0% in 2018) and Estonia (1.7% in 2018, 16-34 year-olds) for LSD.

Impacts

Largely unquantified side effects

Usually, hallucinogens result in neither dependence nor tolerance, particularly due to the fact that they are used in relatively widely spaced sequences. By influencing the brain’s neurons, their use induces distortions in perceptions, which can be visual, auditory, spatial, and time-related, or concern the individual’s perception of their body. The negative effects mentioned by users are often “bad trips”, and “nightmare-like” discomfort, accompanied by anxiety. Lasting effects, often for several days (“glued” or “high” users), but also proven risks of accidents or reckless actions linked to delusions experienced, are also mentioned. The unintended side effects are also linked to fluctuations in the purity of the substances.

Perceptions/Opinions

Users describe the use of LSD as like having a special status. It is categorised by an initiatory experience which often features a mystical dimension or introspection which leaves a lasting impression.

While the popularity of LSD among lovers of psychedelic trips remains, the substance continues to scare numerous connoisseurs of psychotropic substances, likely limiting its distribution.

Legal framework and recent public guidelines

In international law, the Convention on psychotropic substances adopted in Vienna in 1971, classifies psilocin and psilocybin, contained in certain mushrooms, as narcotics. French law is much stricter, since all hallucinogenic mushrooms are classified as narcotics, regardless of their type. That equally applies to synthetic hallucinogens (LSD, GHB, ketamine, etc.). In this respect, hallucinogens fall under the law of 31 December 1970 relating to health measures to fight against drug addiction and combat the trafficking and use of poisonous substances. Therefore, the purchase, possession, use, manufacture, transport, transfer (even free of charge) and sale of hallucinogens is banned by the Public Health Code and the penal code.

Depending on the severity of trafficking offences, sentences may extend to life imprisonment, and a fine of 7.5 million euros for participating in an organised trafficking network.