Experimental Test of Perceptions of Psychedelics by Therapeutic and Recreational Use.
Mackenzie T Kiniry, Renee E Magnan, Sarah N Elder, Benjamin O Ladd
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 22, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2452231 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn a survey of 309 adults, perceptions of psychedelic substances varied by the reason for use: therapeutic use was seen as having more positive health consequences, while recreational use was seen as having more negative health consequences. People who had used psychedelics in their lifetime (40.7% of the sample) rated both therapeutic and recreational uses as having more positive health consequences. Overall, moderate to strong positive and negative health perceptions were reported. The findings suggest that public views of psychedelics depend on the context of use, which could inform public health communications.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Within-subjects experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 309 |
| Population | Adults who completed an online survey |
| Keywords | Attitude Hallucinogen Perception Psychedelic Substance use |
| Key finding | Recreational use of psychedelics was perceived as having more negative health consequences, while therapeutic use was perceived as having more positive health consequences, and lifetime users rated both uses more positively. |
Abstract
Recent research on the potential therapeutic value of psychedelic substances has led to changes in media representation and drug policy in some U.S. states. Yet, little is known about lay perceptions of these substances. The current study aimed to describe health perceptions of psychedelic substances, test differences in perceptions of therapeutic vs. recreational use of psychedelic substances, and determine if such perceptions vary by use experience. Participants (N = 309) completed an online within-subjects experiment in which they responded to measures of positive and negative perceptions of therapeutic and recreational use of psychedelics. Endorsement of positive and negative health perceptions of psychedelics was moderate to strong. Recreational use was perceived as having more negative health consequences, while therapeutic use was perceived as having more positive health consequences. Participants who reported lifetime psychedelic use (40.7%) perceived both recreational and therapeutic uses as having more positive health consequences, and this pattern was consistent across most perception domains. The outcomes suggest that public perceptions of use may change based on reason for use. This information may aid in filling current gaps in knowledge and identifying potential targets for public health communications, and such approaches may benefit from considering prior use experience.