Public perceptions of psychedelics: results from a survey in the general Norwegian population

Introduction

Recent developments in Norway suggest increasing institutional acceptance of psychedelic and related treatments. In August 2025, Norway became the first country to reimburse ketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) within the public healthcare system, a treatment previously available in both public and private clinics. Public investment in this area is also reflected in the allocation of public funding for a large multisite randomized controlled trial investigating ketamine for TRD. In parallel, emerging clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy and increased media attention may contribute to growing public interest in psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions. However, unfavorable attitudes, stigma, and limited acceptance could represent barriers to their clinical implementation. At present, population-level knowledge about perceptions of psychedelic treatments remains limited.

Aims

The present study aimed to investigate attitudes, experiences, and knowledge regarding psychedelic substances and their therapeutic use within a representative sample of the general population.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was administered by Ipsos, a commercial polling provider, to a representative sample of 1,240 Norwegian adults (aged 18+). In addition to demographic information, the survey assessed participants’ experiences with, attitudes toward, and knowledge of the therapeutic use and safety of psychedelics, using the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire, along with additional items. Participants also self-reported any psychiatric and substance use disorder diagnoses. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Group differences in attitudes were examined using Mann–Whitney U tests due to the ordinal scale of the measures, with effect sizes reported as |r|. Associations between knowledge and attitudes were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation.

Results

Most participants reported no mental health disorder (79.8%); the most common reported diagnoses were depression (8.3%) and generalized anxiety disorder (3.8%). Overall, 14.2% reported previous psychedelic use, primarily in recreational settings, while only 0.8% reported therapeutic use in clinical or research contexts. Participants with previous psychedelic experience reported significantly more positive attitudes toward psychedelic treatments than those without such experience (U = 35,021; p < .001; |r| = .38). Positive attitudes were significantly associated with all psychiatric disorders (p < .05), except obsessive–compulsive disorder.

A majority supported the legal medical use of psychedelics under regulated conditions (51.3%). Nearly half believed administration could be safe when carefully controlled (45.3%), while 47.4% disagreed that legalization would benefit society. Safety concerns were common, with only 7.9% considering psychedelics inherently safe. Nevertheless, participants expressed optimism regarding ongoing research (47.0%) and interest in learning more about psychedelic therapies (53.9%). Most participants (64.9%) reported limited knowledge of the therapeutic applications of psychedelics, and greater knowledge was associated with more positive attitudes (Spearman’s ρ = .24, p < .001). Media was the most commonly reported source of information (50.6%). Participants reported the highest trust in information from research centers (65.9%), scientific journals (63.9%), universities and colleges (51.4%), and health institutions (50.2%).

Conclusions

These findings underscore the importance of public education and suggest that individuals with existing mental health conditions may be particularly receptive to psychedelic-assisted therapies, offering insights relevant to future clinical implementation and harm reduction.

References