Attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy among potential mental health service users and the general population in Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry October 1, 2024 Zohaib Nadeem, Stephen Parker, Hugh McGovern et al. 19 citations
A survey of 502 Australians, 64.5% of whom self-identified as having a mental illness, found that 43% favored legalizing psychedelics for medical use and 52.4% were open to their use, but only 24% viewed their effects positively and 33% considered them safe. Most participants (61%) had never used psychedelics. People with mental illness were more likely to have used psychedelics (44.1%) than those without (29.7%). Experience, perceived knowledge, and actual knowledge predicted attitudes toward legalization, effects, risks, and openness. While many Australians support medical legalization, safety concerns persist. Those with mental illness, prior recreational use, or greater knowledge held more positive attitudes.