Clinical Characteristics of Emergency Visits Related to Recreational Psychedelic Use

Bibliographic Data

ID8905679
AuthorsKush V Bhatt (UC San Diego Health System, corresponding author), Joseph Friedman (0000-0002-5225-3267, University of California San Diego), Lindsay Benster (0000-0003-0510-6448, University of California San Diego), Rekha Narasimhan (University of California San Diego), Kevin Yang (0000-0002-1030-2729), Ke Yang (0000-0003-2757-5771, University of California San Diego), Jyoti Mishra (0000-0001-6612-4557, University of California San Diego), Cory R Weissman (0000-0002-5087-8263, University of California San Diego), Dhakshin Ramanathan (0000-0002-5212-3067, University of California San Diego)
Year2026
Publication date2026-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCommunity Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0010-3853 • E-ISSN: 1573-2789
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s10597-026-01620-x
PMID41920509
OpenAlexW7147451430
LanguageEN
References cited40

Recreational psychedelic use is increasing, yet data on adverse events remains limited. This study characterized emergency department (ED) visits associated with recreational psychedelic use at UC San Diego Medical Center. We conducted a retrospective chart review of ED encounters (2010–2023). Cases were identified using ICD-10 hallucinogen-related codes and confirmed through manual review. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization. We identified 232 cases, primarily related to LSD (35.0%), MDMA (30.2%), and psilocybin (24.0%). The cohort was predominantly young, white, and male. Common psychiatric symptoms included agitation (25.9%) and anxiety (24.6%). Common nonpsychiatric symptoms included nausea/vomiting (9.5%) and diaphoresis (5.2%). 11.2% of cases required psychiatric hospitalization. Factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization included concurrent cannabis use (OR = 10.9, 95% CI 3.37–39.64), history of bipolar disorder (OR = 12.67, 95% CI 2.35–70.43), and history of a primary psychotic disorder (OR = 17.10, 95% CI 2.01–187.49). Psychedelic-associated emergency visits present with various clinical characteristics. While most recreational psychedelic presentations are effectively managed in the emergency department, specific factors predict severe outcomes. Concurrent cannabis use and pre-existing psychotic or bipolar disorders are associated with increased odds of psychiatric hospitalization, underscoring the importance of targeted risk assessment in patients with these vulnerabilities

Anxiety · Bipolar disorder · Cannabis · Depression (economics · Emergency department · Poison control · Psychiatric history · Psychiatric medication · Recreational Drug · Retrospective cohort study · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Psychedelics and Drug Studies

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