Emerging clinical research suggests that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) shows promise for treating symptoms of several mental health conditions (Schenberg, 2018). This study examines attitudes toward PAP among U.S. law enforcement and military personnel (LE/MP), focusing on ketamine- and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Six hypotheses were proposed, including that LE/MP would exhibit less supportive attitudes toward psychedelics and PAP than the general public and that education might differentially impact perceptions of the use of ketamine and psilocybin in treatment. A total of 446 U.S.-based participants, including 60 LE/MP, completed an online survey comprising the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (Žuljević et al., 2022) and an Attitudes Toward Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Scale (APAPS; adapted from Harding et al., 2021 and Wildberger et al.,2017). Participants’ attitudes were measured before and after being educated about PAP. Statistical analyses controlled for demographic variables such as age, gender, education, and political affiliation. LE/MP showed significantly less positive attitudes toward psychedelics and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy than the general public. Attitudes toward ketamine-assisted psychotherapy did not differ significantly between groups. Educational interventions did not improve attitudes toward either form of PAP among LE/MP. The findings highlight continued stigma toward psychedelics and PAP among LE/MP, even after educational interventions. These.
