Date of Award

5-2023

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Li, Yawen

Abstract

Although psychedelic substances are currently categorized under federal law as a Schedule I controlled substance, there has recently been a renewed interest in the use of psychedelics to treat a number of mental health and substance use disorders. Research is garnering positive results in clinical trials, although much fear and stigma still surrounds psychedelic use. Future social workers’ presence in both macro level practices, advocating for mental health treatments and access to care, as well as their work in micro level clinically focused practices adds to their relevancy and legitimacy in advocating for potential policy changes on therapeutic psychedelic usage at various levels.

This study aimed to discover social work students’ attitudes toward using psychedelics in a clinical therapy setting. It uses survey questionnaire to measure students’ perception of effectiveness, safety, acceptability, and knowledge of psychedelic use. The results of this study found significant relationships between prior psychedelic use, politics, and religion on perceived safety, acceptability, and knowledge while controlling for demographic variables such as age, gender, and social work programs. These results provide valuable insights into the perspectives of the next generation of mental health professionals and can inform future discussions about the implementation of psychedelics in the mental health and social work fields to treat mental health disorders.

Included in

Social Work Commons

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