Verywell Mind Survey: Psychedelics and Mental Health

Introduction

In an era of mental health exploration, psychedelics have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. Once considered taboo, the use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for mental health conditions is gaining attention. However, the public's perception of psychedelics remains largely unexplored. To delve into this topic, Verywell Mind conducted a survey among over 1,800 American adults to gauge their knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward psychedelics in treating mental health.

National Consciousness and Psychedelics

The survey revealed that while the psychedelics trend has made waves in mental health circles, it has yet to reach a tipping point among the general public. Only 15% of Americans hold a positive opinion of psychedelics, while 34% hold a negative opinion. The remaining half are either neutral or unaware of psychedelics. Factors such as knowledge, professional endorsement, and legal barriers seem to influence public perception.

Psychedelics in Mental Health

Despite limited knowledge and accessibility, the survey found that under certain conditions, nearly half of Americans are open to the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment. Safety, supervision, and medical justification are key factors that shape public opinion. About a third of Americans are aware of the use of psychedelics for mental health reasons, and 24% favor their use in mental health treatment. However, only 17% would definitively consider psychedelics as part of their treatment.

Support for Psychedelic Legality

The survey revealed that support for psychedelic legalization is contingent on factors like medical supervision and FDA approval. Almost half of Americans would support legalization for mental health treatment purposes, with greater support among those who have seen a therapist recently. Recreational use legalization, however, is less favored, with only 26% supporting it.

Barriers to Accessibility

Even if some legal hurdles were removed, accessing psychedelics through prescription or a traditional therapist would likely remain a challenge. The infrastructure to support such treatments is extremely limited right now, and the existing options are expensive — and likely to remain so:

Spravato — a drug derived from ketamine, which has been approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression — may be covered by insurance. (Note that Spravato itself does not fit the classic definition of a psychedelic.) But off-label ketamine infusion treatments can cost thousands of dollars for a single session and are not FDA-approved.

Psychedelic retreats where the drugs are legal can also cost several thousand dollars. If legalization continues to happen on a state-by-state basis, simply traveling to a place where, say, psilocybin therapy is legal could be prohibitively expensive for most people who might benefit from these treatments.

The modern concept of psychedelic therapy is largely dominated by white men, which means that these modalities may not be fully equipped to serve diverse clients. Clinical trials, in general, have long struggled to include racial, sexual, and gender minorities, and training is needed to ensure that these treatments are culturally competent.

The inequities that currently limit BIPOC and other marginalized communities’ access to adequate mental health care are likely to extend to psychedelic therapies, regardless of whether they are fully legalized.

Conclusion

Verywell Mind Takeaway

Americans are wary yet curious when it comes to psychedelics. A better scientific and psychological understanding of these substances, their effects, risks, and potential benefits will be the first step toward more widespread acceptance, continued decriminalization, and eventual normalization as legitimate mental health treatment options.

Methodology

Verywell Mind surveyed over 1,800 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, across a wide range of demographics including age, race, income, geographic location, and sexual orientation.