Prevalence and Correlates of Psychedelic Use in Poland: A Study on a Representative Sample of Polish Adults

Around 4% to 8% of Polish adults, or about 2 million people, have tried classic psychedelics like psilocybin or LSD at least once. Men were more likely than women to use these substances, with the largest group of users aged 25–34 and living in urban areas. Curiosity was the most common reason for trying them, and users typically described the experience as a mix of pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Many participants held negative views of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy, but those with prior psychedelic experience had more positive attitudes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Objective Recent years have witnessed a resurgence in research exploring the therapeutic potential of classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD for treating mental disorders. However, there is a limited knowledge regarding the epidemiology of classic psychedelics consumption and the factors associated with their recreational use in Poland. Methods A representative sample of Polish citizens (N=1051 adults) completed an internet-based survey encompassing demographic inquiries, evaluations of psychedelic substance consumption including motivations and contexts, subjective assessments of psychedelics experience and evaluation of attitudes towards psychodelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Results Our study revealed that approximately 4% to 8% of Polish individuals, equivalent to around 2 million people, have experimented with psychedelic substances at least once in their lives. Men exhibited a higher likelihood of psychedelic use compared to women, with the largest cohort of users falling within the 25-34 age bracket and residing in urban areas. The most common motivation for reaching them was curiosity. The psychedelic experience was commonly described as a mixture of pleasant and unpleasant sensations. A significant portion of participants expressed a negative attitude towards psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy, but previous experience with psychodelics was associated with more positive attitudes. Conclusions In this representative sample of Poles, we found a substantial percentage of adults who recreationally used classic psychedelics, with majority of them being young men coming from big cities. More studies are needed as well as educational programs that may foster scientific research into psychedelic therapy in Poland and the attitudes of Poles toward it.