The Impact of Communicating the Benefits and Safety of Psilocybin on Policy Support: a Survey Based Experiment

IF 4.4 2区医学 Q1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

International Journal of Drug Policy Pub Date : 2025-08-01 DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104909

K. Hitchins, J.P. Reynolds

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Preliminary evidence suggests psilocybin may have therapeutic value for various mental health conditions; despite this, it is currently illegal in the UK. Less is known about how people form their attitudes towards psilocybin policies.

Objectives

To explore whether beliefs about the benefits and safety of psilocybin influence support for psilocybin policies.

Methods

In an online survey experiment, 804 participants were randomised to receive one of four interventions in a 2 (no information vs evidence for psilocybin benefits) x 2 (no information vs evidence for psilocybin safety) design. Public support for four psilocybin policies and beliefs about the benefits and safety of psilocybin were measured before and after participants were randomised to a group.

Results

In a two-way ANCOVA, the Benefits Intervention significantly increased policy support overall (d = 0.11, p < .001); and for two of four psilocybin policies when analysed separately. Furthermore, the Benefits Intervention significantly strengthened beliefs that psilocybin is beneficial (d = 0.44, p < .001) and safe (d = 0.26, p < .001). The Safety Intervention increased psilocybin policy support overall (d = 0.10, p = .003); and for three of four psilocybin policies when analysed separately. The Safety Intervention also strengthened beliefs that psilocybin is safe (d = 0.28, p < .001) but not that it is beneficial.

Conclusions

Communicating the benefits and safety of psilocybin can increase psilocybin policy support and strengthen beliefs about psilocybin, however further research is needed to explore the longevity of these results.

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宣传裸盖菇素的益处和安全性对政策支持的影响：一项基于调查的实验

初步证据表明裸盖菇素可能对各种精神健康状况具有治疗价值；尽管如此，它目前在英国是非法的。人们对裸盖菇素政策的态度是如何形成的，我们知之甚少。目的探讨对裸盖菇素的益处和安全性的信念是否会影响对裸盖菇素政策的支持。方法在一项在线调查实验中，804名参与者随机接受2（无裸盖菇素益处信息与证据）x 2（无裸盖菇素安全性信息与证据）设计的四种干预措施中的一种。在参与者被随机分配到一组之前和之后，测量了公众对四项裸盖菇素政策的支持程度，以及对裸盖菇素益处和安全性的看法。结果在双向方差分析中，福利干预显著增加了整体政策支持(d = 0.11, p <；措施);四种裸盖菇素政策中有两种是单独分析的。此外，益处干预显著强化了裸盖菇素有益的信念(d = 0.44, p <；.001)和安全(d = 0.26, p <；措施)。安全干预总体上增加了裸盖菇素政策支持（d = 0.10, p = 0.003）；四种裸盖菇素政策中有三种是单独分析的。安全干预也强化了裸盖菇素是安全的信念(d = 0.28, p <；.001)但不是说它是有益的。结论宣传裸盖菇素的益处和安全性可以增加裸盖菇素的政策支持，增强人们对裸盖菇素的信念，但这些结果的持久性还需要进一步的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Drug Policy SUBSTANCE ABUSE-

CiteScore

7.80

自引率

11.40%

发文量

307

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Drug Policy provides a forum for the dissemination of current research, reviews, debate, and critical analysis on drug use and drug policy in a global context. It seeks to publish material on the social, political, legal, and health contexts of psychoactive substance use, both licit and illicit. The journal is particularly concerned to explore the effects of drug policy and practice on drug-using behaviour and its health and social consequences. It is the policy of the journal to represent a wide range of material on drug-related matters from around the world.