Have Norwegians tried psilocybin, and do they accept it as a medicine?

In a representative sample of the Norwegian population (1,078 respondents), 8% reported having tried psilocybin, and 51% were willing to try it as part of medical treatment. These findings suggest that psilocybin use is more common in Norway than hypothesized, and the public is relatively open to its medical use, which is promising for conducting rigorous clinical trials on psilocybin-assisted treatment in the country.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Background Psilocybin is emerging as a promising therapeutic agent for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, and clinical trials on psilocybin-assisted treatment are forthcoming in Scandinavian countries. However, little is known about attitudes towards this psychedelic compound among the general public in Nordic countries. This might represent a confound, and reduce the validity of research findings or the overall feasibility of conducting high-quality clinical trials. Aims The main objective of this study is to address the knowledge gap surrounding use and attitudes towards psilocybin in Norway. Methods We asked a representative sample of the Norwegian population ( N = 1,078) if they have ever tried psilocybin and if they would be willing to do so as part of medical treatment. These questions were part of a larger online survey on a variety personal preferences and attitudes, and the survey was not presented as a study on psilocybin. Results Of the 1,078 respondents, 8% reported previous psilocybin use and 51% were willing to try psilocybin in medical treatment. Conclusions Psilocybin use is more common in Norway than the authors hypothesized, and the general public is relatively open to using psilocybin in a medical context. The latter is interpreted as promising with regards to the feasibility of conducting rigorous clinical trials on potential effects and side effects of psilocybin-assisted treatment in Norway.