SOLVED. 90s YA fiction novel where the protagonist joins a cult. [s]

[Karen]

I read this book sometime in the 90s and I cannot for the life of me remember what it's called. I know it was a YA novel and the protagonist is a girl. She gets sucked into a cult. At some point they go out into the dessert and do what I think is Peyote (there's talk of dried buttons of cactus or something along those lines). For whatever reason, I remember at some point the main character comments on how bitter they are and the cult leader mentions "the sweetness follows".

I believe the protagonist's mom may have been a single mom as well, I feel like she was a strong character in it.

Sorry I don't have more info but this has been bugging me for YEARS and I would love to know what it was called.

[Rainbowheart]

Evil Encounter

[Karen]

Omg that’s it!! Thank you so much!

[Rainbowheart]

No prob, glad to help out!