Medical students in Nevada hold generally positive attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies but lack knowledge about them. In a survey of 132 students (22.7% response rate), 78.6% agreed that psychedelics have therapeutic potential, and 95.2% agreed they deserve further research. Students expressed uncertainty about neurocognitive risks. Demographic factors such as age, sex, and level of training did not significantly affect attitudes. The authors suggest that as psychedelic therapies may soon gain federal approval for psychiatric conditions, medical training should include early education on these agents to prepare future clinicians.
A two-hour team-based learning curriculum improved medical students' knowledge, comprehension, and ethical understanding of psychedelic therapies. Pre- and post-surveys from 63 and 50 students, respectively, showed significant gains in perceived knowledge and attitudes, while 48 matched pre/post-knowledge tests demonstrated enhanced comprehension. Qualitative feedback indicated greater comfort discussing psychedelics clinically, though some students expressed reservations about psychedelic-assisted therapy. The curriculum addresses an educational gap as psychedelic medicine becomes more relevant.