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When it comes to treating mental health issues, we’re living in an era of exploration. There are more options for mainstream treatments like psychotherapy and medication than ever. The current mix of crisis, awareness, and openness around mental health, however, has bred approaches to care that were considered taboo just a few short years ago. One such approach is the use ofpsychedelic drugslike psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine. This class of substances can change sensory perceptions, produce hallucinations, alter mood, and shift your cognitive processes.
Many people are now touting the benefits ofmicrodosing, states across the country are taking steps towards decriminalizing or legalizing these substances, andpsychedelic therapyis gaining a foothold as an intriguing treatment innovation.
To better understand just how much ground this trend has gained in the national consciousness, we surveyed over 1,800 American adults about their current knowledge of psychedelics and awareness of their potential use in treating mental health conditions like depression and PTSD.
For quite some time, psychedelics have shown promise in their ability to treat certain mental health conditions, as we see with the approved medical use of ketamine-derived medication in all 50 states, and there may be growing interest in exploring them due to the ongoing mental health crisis in the US.—AMY MORIN, LCSW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
For quite some time, psychedelics have shown promise in their ability to treat certain mental health conditions, as we see with the approved medical use of ketamine-derived medication in all 50 states, and there may be growing interest in exploring them due to the ongoing mental health crisis in the US.
—AMY MORIN, LCSW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
How Americans Feel About Psychedelics
We found that the psychedelics trend—buzzy thought it may be in mental health circles—has not yet reached a tipping point amongst Americans at-large:
Our survey suggests a few factors that might shift the general awareness and perception of psychedelics—knowledge, professional endorsement within the medical community, and continued lowering of legal barriers. With limited exceptions, psychedelics are not legal throughout the US, and Americans do not have a strong sense of what these drugs actually do.
Despite these knowledge and accessibility gaps, our results do show that under the right circumstances, nearly half Americans are open to the idea of using psychedelics for mental health conditions.
In many ways, we may be at an inflection point similar to where things stood with cannabis over the last decade—widespread legality for medical purposes, a growing body of research into alternative potential uses, and the ingredients for what became a major industry based around cannabis-derived products.
Now,CBD supplementsare a multi-billion dollar business representing a major corner of the wellness space, and federal marijuana legalization appears to be on the horizon. Only time will tell if psychedelics may follow a similar path.
Where Psychedelics Fit Into the Mental Health Conversation
Ketamine is the only psychedelic that has achieved a manner of broad legality—but only for medical use. In 2019, a ketamine-derived nasal spray became thefirst FDA-approved psychedelic medicine, to be used specifically for treatment-resistant depression. It has shown to be a very effective—if expensive—option for individuals whose condition has not responded to traditional anti-depressant medications.
Other psychedelics are a different story:
Given these facts, it’s little surprise that Americans are not in favor of psychedelic use unless certain conditions are met.
Safety, Supervision, and Medical Justification
While Americans seem to have a firm stance against psychedelics in general, the tenor of responses shifts when the context of mental health is given stronger consideration:
While only 15%have positive feelings about psychedelicsin general, 24% are in favor of using them as part of treatment for a mental health condition. That number rises to 36% amongst those who have seen a therapist recently.
Almost half of Americans would support legalization of at least some psychedelics for the purposes of mental health treatment, as long as it was appropriately supervised.
Support is greatest (61%) among Americans who have seen a therapist in the last 30 days. As the abstractions and unknowns around psychedelic and their therapeutic potential are stripped away, it seems people are much more likely to adjust their views.
A shift in the official status of these possible treatments is a critical component of public sentiment, according to the survey. Only 17% say they would definitely consider psychedelics as part of treatment for a mental health condition, but the right circumstances lead to more openness:
Accessibility
Many of the disparities that currently limit access to adequate mental healthcare in BIPOC and other disadvantaged communities would likely extend to psychedelic treatments, whether or not they are fully legalized.
A Word From Verywell
When it comes to psychedelics, Americans are cautious, but curious. Better scientific and psychological understanding of these drugs, their effects, risks, and potential benefits will be the first steps toward wider acceptance, continued decriminalization and, ultimately, normalization as a mental health treatment option when appropriate.
Methodology
Verywell Mind surveyed over 1,800 Americans age 18+ across a wide range of demographics including age, race, income, geographic location, and sexual orientation.
4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.George JR, Michaels TI, Sevelius J, Williams MT.The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion.Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 2020;4(1):4-15. doi:10.1556/2054.2019.015Tiger, M., Veldman, E.R., Ekman, CJ.et al.A randomized placebo-controlled PET study of ketamine´s effect on serotonin1B receptor binding in patients with SSRI-resistant depression.Transl Psychiatry10, 159 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0844-4Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al.Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up.J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(2):151-158. doi:10.1177/02698811211073759Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.George JR, Michaels TI, Sevelius J, Williams MT.The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion.Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 2020;4(1):4-15. doi:10.1556/2054.2019.015Tiger, M., Veldman, E.R., Ekman, CJ.et al.A randomized placebo-controlled PET study of ketamine´s effect on serotonin1B receptor binding in patients with SSRI-resistant depression.Transl Psychiatry10, 159 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0844-4Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al.Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up.J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(2):151-158. doi:10.1177/02698811211073759Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
George JR, Michaels TI, Sevelius J, Williams MT.The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion.Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 2020;4(1):4-15. doi:10.1556/2054.2019.015Tiger, M., Veldman, E.R., Ekman, CJ.et al.A randomized placebo-controlled PET study of ketamine´s effect on serotonin1B receptor binding in patients with SSRI-resistant depression.Transl Psychiatry10, 159 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0844-4Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al.Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up.J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(2):151-158. doi:10.1177/02698811211073759Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3
George JR, Michaels TI, Sevelius J, Williams MT.The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion.Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 2020;4(1):4-15. doi:10.1556/2054.2019.015
Tiger, M., Veldman, E.R., Ekman, CJ.et al.A randomized placebo-controlled PET study of ketamine´s effect on serotonin1B receptor binding in patients with SSRI-resistant depression.Transl Psychiatry10, 159 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0844-4
Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al.Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up.J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(2):151-158. doi:10.1177/02698811211073759
Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3
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