Survey Shows Increased Dutch Interest in Psychedelics During Pandemic

September 22, 2020 15:31:39

In the Netherlands, the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown significantly decreased drug use, particularly the use of ecstasy and cocaine. Its capital, Amsterdam, recorded the biggest decrease.

The government-imposed restrictions that resulted in the closing of restaurants, cafes and clubs on March 15 led to home confinement for a majority of people. This presented a unique situation for researchers to measure drug use without the presence of an active night life or tourism in the society.

The KWR Water Research Institute conducted an analysis of waste water in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Utrecht between March 18 and 24 this year. The analysis showed that the use of ecstasy decreased by roughly 50% while cocaine use decreased by 25%, both in Amsterdam. The use of amphetamine indicated a decline of roughly 33%. However, the use of marijuana remained unchanged.

In Eindhoven and Utrecht, findings showed very little change across the board in terms of drug use. Some individuals admitted to drinking more alcohol or experimenting with new substances during the lockdown while others chose to stop or cut back during the lockdown.

According to a Trimbos Institute survey that focused on the Netherlands’ nightlife population, the use of psychedelic substances, such as truffles and LSD, increased while there was a significant decrease in the use of ecstasy and alcohol.

This study was carried out between April 28 and May 19, before the government-imposed coronavirus restrictions were relaxed on June 1. The institute surveyed 4,460 individuals, all residents of the Netherlands, who were aged between 16 and 35 who went to a festival or visited a club at least once a year.

About 56% of liquor drinkers stated that they drank less frequently since the lockdown began with 42.9% of ecstasy users saying they also used less ecstasy during the lockdown. Approximately 15.9% of marijuana users also admitted to smoking less during the lockdown.

Roughly 40% of individuals who use psychedelic substances such as LSD, ketamine and truffles, admitted to having used more of the substances during the lockdown period. 72% of the Netherlands nightlife population reported to feeling isolated during the lockdown and admitted to needing support in the aspects of day structure, social contact, coping with a negative mood and activities.  Survey respondents also pointed out that the availability and the price of drugs during the lockdown was not affected.

It would be interesting to hear what psychedelic sector players like Pure Extract Technologies Inc. think about the long-term implications of these research findings.

About PsychedelicNewsWire

PsychedelicNewsWire (PNW) is a specialized content distribution company that (1) aggregates and distributes news and information on the latest developments in all aspects and advances of psychedelics and their use, (2) creates PsychedelicNewsBreaks designed to quickly update investors on important industry news, (3) leverages a team of expert editors to enhance press releases for maximum impact, (4) assists companies with the management and optimization of social media across a range of platforms, and (5) delivers unparalleled corporate communication solutions. PNW stays abreast of the latest information and has established a reputation as the go to source for coverage of psychedelics, therapeutics and emerging market opportunities. Our team of seasoned journalists has a proven track record of helping both public and private companies gain traction with a wide audience of investors, consumers, media outlets and the general public by leveraging our expansive dissemination network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets. PNW is committed to delivering improved visibility and brand recognition to companies operating in the emerging markets of psychedelics.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text “Groovy” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer

Do you have questions or are you interested in working with PNW? Ask our Editor

PsychedelicNewsWire (PNW)
San Francisco, California
www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com
415.949.5050 Office
Editor@PsychedelicWire.com

PsychedelicNewsWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.