Availability of LSD in 12th grade U.S. 2021

In 2021, around 24 percent of 12th graders in the United States stated they felt it was “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain LSD. This is a significant decrease from 54 percent of 12th graders who perceived the drug to be easy to obtain in the year 1995. LSD is a hallucinogenic drug that can alter the user’s thoughts, feelings, and perception of reality.

Teen drug availability

Similar to LSD, around 17 percent of 12th graders in the U.S. also perceived it easy to obtain cocaine. Perceived availability of cocaine among this group has decreased since the year 2007, in which 47 percent felt it was easy to obtain. Marijuana is the most used illicit drug among 12th graders, so it is unsurprising that perceived availability is high. In 2021, around 70 percent of 12th graders stated it was easy to obtain marijuana.

Drug use

Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug in the United States, with around 50 million people using this drug in the past year as of 2020. Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug, followed by LSD and ecstasy. In total, over 28 million people in the U.S. have used LSD in their lifetime.

Availability of LSD as perceived by U.S. 12th graders from 1975 to 2021*

Characteristic	Percentage saying “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get
2021	23.6%
2019	28.2%
2018	28%
2017	26.3%
2016	28%
2015	26.5%
2014	25.9%
2013	24.5%
2012	27.6%
2011	25.1%
2010	25.1%
2009	26.3%
2008	28.5%
2007	28.7%
2006	29%
2005	28.6%
2004	33.1%
2003	33.6%
2002	39.6%
2001	44.7%
2000	46.9%
1995	53.8%
1990	40.7%
1985	30.5%
1980	35.3%
1975	46.2%

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Release date

January 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

1975 to 2021

Special properties

12th-grade students

Supplementary notes

* Percentage of 12th graders saying that it is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get LSD.

Results for 2021 may not be comparable to previous years. In 2021 MTF conducted survey administrations via the internet for the first time, and responses, especially on attitudes, can be sensitive to mode effects
Monitoring the Future is an ongoing study of the behaviors, attitudes, and values of American secondary school students, college students, and young adults. Each year, a total of approximately 50,000 8th, 10th and 12th grade students are surveyed (12th graders since 1975, and 8th and 10th graders since 1991).

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