A new study published in AJOB Neuroscience reveals that most Americans support psilocybin use under supervision, with broad bipartisan backing for both mental health treatment and general well-being enhancement.
Dried psilocybin mushrooms (photo credit: Shutterstock).
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms”, remains classified as a Schedule I substance in the U.S., making it illegal for all uses, despite numerous studies indicating its medical value.
This new study, titled “Strong Bipartisan Support for Controlled Psilocybin Use as Treatment or Enhancement in a Representative Sample of US Americans: Need for Caution in Public Policy Persists,” surveyed 795 Americans aged 18 to 92. The researchers aimed to gauge public opinion amid recent policy changes, such as Oregon’s move to legalize licensed psilocybin use.
Participants received detailed background information about psilocybin and Oregon’s law before evaluating its supervised use in two distinct scenarios: mental health treatment and well-being enhancement. Each participant then assessed the moral acceptability of psilocybin use under licensed, supervised conditions.
Survey results indicated that 89% of respondents found psilocybin use for mental health treatment morally acceptable, while 85% approved of its use for well-being enhancement. Although approval for medical use was slightly higher, both contexts received substantial bipartisan support, with younger adults and liberals showing the strongest endorsement. The study’s authors noted that participants with empathy-driven values were more inclined to approve of psilocybin’s use in controlled settings.
The researchers cautioned that public enthusiasm for psychedelics should be tempered by scientific rigor, highlighting potential pitfalls of both overstating and understating research findings in this developing field. They noted: “Given the early stage of the field, both over- and understatements of trial results are not uncommon. Current scientific evidence, however, does not allow for rash conclusions beyond the fact that psilocybin has significant medical potential and a good safety profile compared to other drugs, given the right context.”
The study abstract further emphasized the importance of informed policymaking, stating: “The psychedelic psilocybin has shown promise both as treatment for psychiatric conditions and as a means of improving well-being in healthy individuals. In some jurisdictions (e.g., Oregon, USA), psilocybin use for both purposes is or will soon be allowed and yet, public attitudes toward this shift are understudied… Showing strong bipartisan support, participants rated the individual’s decision as morally positive in both contexts.” The authors suggested that public perceptions could help guide regulatory approaches, provided that safeguards are implemented to mitigate risks associated with unsupervised or recreational use.
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