The American Journal of Bioethics
January 2, 2025
Y. Tony Yang
4 citations
The mainstreaming of psychedelic-assisted therapy raises complex questions about how to responsibly integrate these treatments into existing legal and medical systems. The authors argue that current regulatory frameworks, originally designed for conventional pharmaceuticals, may be ill-suited to the unique ethical, clinical, and cultural dimensions of psychedelic substances. They examine potential conflicts between medical oversight and the diverse traditions from which these therapies emerge, and suggest that careful, inclusive policy development is needed to balance innovation with patient safety and respect for indigenous knowledge. The piece highlights the importance of anticipating regulatory challenges before widespread clinical adoption occurs.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
February 17, 2026
Carla J. Berg, Cassidy R. Loparco, Darcey M. Mccready et al.
1 citation
Among 3,227 US adults aged 18–34 surveyed in 2025, past-6-month cannabis use was reported by 40.5% and past-year psychedelic use by 11.9%. Psychedelics had less legalization support, less promotional and risk-message exposure, and lower social acceptability than cannabis, while being perceived as more addictive and harmful. Factors linked to both cannabis and psychedelic use included lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, more adverse childhood experiences, more promotional and risk-message exposure, and higher scores on a mental health questionnaire. Greater legalization support for both substances was associated with lower perceived addictiveness and harm, higher social acceptability, and more promotional-message exposure. Message exposure may be especially important in shaping psychedelic use and legalization support.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 19, 2026
Carla J. Berg, Darcey M. Mccready, Cassidy R. Loparco et al.
Among a sample of young adults with high rates of past-month cannabis use, lifetime and past-year psychedelic use were 27.7% and 11.9%, respectively, with psilocybin/amanita, MDMA, and LSD being most common. Nearly half used psychedelics only for nonmedical purposes. Of those who had ever used, 26.5% had microdosed. Older age, male sex, Black race, metropolitan residence, more depressive symptoms, and more adverse childhood events were linked to lifetime use. Microdosing was associated with not having children, more anxiety, and more adverse childhood events. Mental health symptoms and adverse childhood events were also tied to higher use motives, including expansion, mood enhancement, and symptom management.