Post: Which Drug Epidemic Is Next: Meth, Psychedelics, Mushrooms?

Key points

The history of drug use and current data suggest that the opioid epidemic is peaking and stimulants are next.

The CDC reports that overdose deaths in the U.S. fell 17% between July 2023 and July 2024

Speedballing, methamphetamine, and cocaine use—and deaths—are increasing.

In parallel to psychostimulants, use of psilocybin, "shrooms," MDMA, LSD, and other psychedelics is growing.

In the United States, there is a distinct tendency for opioid epidemics to be followed by stimulant epidemics. David Musto, M.D., renowned Yale historian of medicine and expert on drug policy, first observed such a pattern of substance use in the U..S and, based on historical analysis, articulated his cyclical theory of drug use in the 1970s, providing a compelling lens for understanding drug trends.

Data show that many people now are “speedballing,” smoking or injecting combined depressants like opioids (e.g., fentanyl) with stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Another possible emerging epidemic is psychedelics or psychedelic mushrooms, “shrooms.” Historical Changes in Illegal Drug Preferences

Drug preferences often reflect cultural and psychological shifts, Musto observed. After an opioid epidemic, with symptoms marked by sedation, withdrawal, and lethargy, increasing numbers of drug-abusing people may turn to stimulants for energy, euphoria, and feeling empowered. Drug policy crackdowns on one substance often leave a vacuum filled by another. As heroin became less available in the 1970s, cocaine surged.

After the U.S. opium crisis of the late 19th century, cocaine use increased, especially with its inclusion in patent medicines and beverages like the original version of Coca-Cola. (Cocaine hasn’t been present in Coke products for 100-plus years.) Following the heroin epidemic of the late 1960s and early 1970s, cocaine use spiked, peaking in the 1980s as crack cocaine became prevalent.In the current opioid epidemic, signs indicate increased stimulant use. Methamphetamine and cocaine use have risen sharply in recent years, sometimes co-occurring with opioid use. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and speedball deaths have increased, as has prescription misuse of Adderall and Vyvanse (prescription psychostimulants) for energy and work performance enhancement. Saturday Night Live Performers and Drug Changes Celebrity endorsements of drugs significantly impact public perception of their safety […]

Which Drug Epidemic Is Next: Meth, Psychedelics, Mushrooms?