Survey shows many Americans support psychedelics to treat mental health issues

Two-thirds of Americans with treatment-resistant anxiety, depression or PTSD believe that psychedelics should be made available for therapeutic means, according to U.S. adults who took part in a survey conducted by The Harris Poll.

Per a press release, the online survey was undertaken on behalf of Delic Holdings Corp., a company that provides psychedelic treatments to patients, over a 3-day span in Dec. 2021, which polled 2,037 U.S. adults, 953 of whom said they suffer from anxiety, depression or PTSD.

Sixty-three percent of the respondents who have used prescription medications to treat the above-mentioned diagnoses revealed that medication did not entirely quell any residual feelings, while 18% of those polled stated their medication either did not improve their condition or made it worse.

"We are witnessing a silent crisis impacting people across the globe exacerbated by an ongoing pandemic, and the results of this survey should compel more medical professionals and lawmakers to support in-depth studies on the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicine," said Matt Stang, co-founder and CEO of Delic.

"This promising family of new medicines has the potential to be more effective than traditional medicines with minimal side effects, giving people their best selves back. Our country's mental health crisis not only impacts public health, but also the economy; each year, untreated mental illness costs the U.S. up to $300 billion in lost productivity."

According to the results, 83% of Americans experiencing anxiety, depression or PTSD would pursue alternative treatments to prescription medication.

Among those polled, 66% said they would be open to using ketamine, 62% were in favor of psilocybin, and 56% showed support for MDMA if prescribed by a physician and proven to be more effective than prescription medication with fewer side effects.