Human Service Professionals’, Educators’, and Students’ Attitudes Toward Psychedelics and Psychedelic Therapy
Michelle K. Shuler, E. A. Keller-Dupree
Journal of Human Services February 28, 2025 DOI: 10.52678/001c.132043 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 72 |
| Population | Human service students, educators, and professionals |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Psychedelic substances Hallucinogens Entheogens Psychotropic drugs Psychiatric disorders Mental illness Psychiatric treatment Mental healthcare Professional perspectives Human service professionals Educators Students Expert opinions Medical education Education and training Professional development Therapeutic training |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Most participants agreed that psychedelic use under medical supervision is not unsafe and strongly agreed that psychedelics show promise in treating psychiatric disorders and deserve further research. |
Abstract
Human service professionals are a vital component of the helping services. Their attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic treatments are critical for future integration into community and social service. This descriptive study explored the attitudes about psychedelics used in treatment among 72 human service students, educators, and professionals. Participants expressed uncertain attitudes about possible psychiatric and cognitive risks related to psychedelic use. However, most participants agreed that psychedelic use under medical supervision is not unsafe. The majority of participants strongly agreed that psychedelics show promise in treating psychiatric disorders and deserves further research. When randomly grouped, nonsignificant differences existed between those who reported prior psychedelic use compared to those who did not. Overall, this research highlights the need for further investigation into what constitutes appropriate psychedelic use education and training for human service professionals. Addressing such educational and training gaps can help ensure competency, knowledge, and skills for future use.