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Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in public health

Breaking psychedelic boundaries in public health: emerging ideas with ancient roots.

  • Kenton Bartlett1
  • Lisa L Gezon2
  • Walter D Ward3
  • Fanicy Sears4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
  2. 2Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
  3. 3Department of History, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
  4. 4Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States.
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Abstract

The modern United States faces significant public health challenges, including a mental health crisis and healthcare systems with numerous shortcomings. At the same time, emerging research on psychedelic substances demonstrates their robust applications for health and well-being, as well as their nuanced risks. While regulators explore how psychedelics can be incorporated into existing healthcare models, patterns of psychedelic use extend beyond clinical settings. These naturalistic or non-clinical applications-for spiritual growth, social bonding, ecological connection, and overall health-have occurred for thousands of years in various cultural contexts. In this critical analysis, we examine historical evidence depicting how psychedelics were utilized in the Americas, before and after European colonization. We highlight the racialized and religious origins of prohibitionist drug policy, as well as U.S. healthcare norms that constrain avenues for mental health, personal choice, and general flourishing. By drawing on interdisciplinary research in clinical mental health, history, anthropology, and medical sociology, we argue for (A.) holistic improvements to narrow mental healthcare models and (B.) an expanded-access posture towards psychedelics that includes non-clinical use scenarios. Our review of existing evidence supports these approaches for improving public mental health.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bartlett2026breaking,
  title = {{Breaking psychedelic boundaries in public health: emerging ideas with ancient roots.}},
  author = {Kenton Bartlett and Lisa L Gezon and Walter D Ward and Fanicy Sears},
  journal = {Frontiers in public health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1923284},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908791},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Breaking psychedelic boundaries in public health: emerging ideas with ancient roots.
AU  - Kenton Bartlett
AU  - Lisa L Gezon
AU  - Walter D Ward
AU  - Fanicy Sears
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
JO  - Frontiers in public health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1923284
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908791
AB  - The modern United States faces significant public health challenges, including a mental health crisis and healthcare systems with numerous shortcomings. At the same time, emerging research on psychedelic substances demonstrates their robust applications for health and well-being, as well as their nuanced risks. While regulators explore how psychedelics can be incorporated into existing healthcare models, patterns of psychedelic use extend beyond clinical settings. These naturalistic or non-clinical applications-for spiritual growth, social bonding, ecological connection, and overall health-have occurred for thousands of years in various cultural contexts. In this critical analysis, we examine historical evidence depicting how psychedelics were utilized in the Americas, before and after European colonization. We highlight the racialized and religious origins of prohibitionist drug policy, as well as U.S. healthcare norms that constrain avenues for mental health, personal choice, and general flourishing. By drawing on interdisciplinary research in clinical mental health, history, anthropology, and medical sociology, we argue for (A.) holistic improvements to narrow mental healthcare models and (B.) an expanded-access posture towards psychedelics that includes non-clinical use scenarios. Our review of existing evidence supports these approaches for improving public mental health.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -