Psychedelics and Mental Health in Endurance Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil.
Journal of psychoactive drugs March 20, 2026 Marina A M Portes, Leandro J Bertoglio
Endurance athletes face unique psychological and physical stressors, yet their knowledge and attitudes toward psychedelic therapies are largely unknown. A survey of 28 Brazilian endurance athletes (mean age 37) found that 64% reported a lack of mental health support in their athletic environments. Only 11% had prior psychedelic experience, while 79% were open to legal, supervised psychedelic therapies. However, 61% were unaware of evidence for psychedelics in treating mental health conditions, and 78% mistakenly believed psychedelics are addictive. Women more often reported pharmacological treatment for depression or anxiety. The findings highlight unmet mental health needs, knowledge gaps, and misconceptions, pointing to a need for targeted, evidence-based education.