Journal of psychoactive drugsJun 17, 2026

Mental Healthcare Professionals' Views on Using Psychedelics to Treat Substance Use Disorders

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jun 18, 2026

Abstract

A total of 966 participants were included in the review of mental healthcare professionals' attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy for substance use disorder.

The majority of mental healthcare professionals hold a cautiously optimistic view of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Some professionals expressed hesitancy and concerns regarding safety, efficacy, and practical challenges of implementing this therapy.
Knowledge and familiarity with psychedelic-assisted therapy are linked to a more positive perspective among professionals.
There is a notable need for targeted education and training to improve understanding of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Simplified

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is increasingly recognized as a potential novel treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). As evidence continues to grow, the successful implementation of this modality into clinical practice will depend significantly on the perceptions and attitudes of mental healthcare professionals. Accordingly, a systematic review was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific literature on how professionals view the use of psychedelics for the treatment of SUD. A systematic search was performed across six databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, and SocIndex. A total of six studies were identified with a total of 966 participants. Findings revealed that the majority of mental healthcare professionals hold a cautiously optimistic attitude toward PAT. Moreover, a minority expressed hesitancy and critical perspectives, citing concerns about safety, efficacy, and the practical challenges of integrating PAT into existing clinical frameworks. Finally, the results indicate that knowledge and familiarity with PAT were key predictors of a more positive outlook. Given the current limited level of knowledge among professionals, these findings underscore a significant need for targeted education and training. Addressing these barriers is essential to facilitate the effective and responsible integration of PAT into standard clinical care for SUD.