Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan received a $726,696 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279), effective June 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. The award supports "The Health Outcomes of Psychedelics Use Survey (POCUS)," a nationally representative survey study designed to characterize national perceptions of psychedelic risks and safety, use patterns, and associated health outcomes. This research addresses a significant public health gap, as the rapid pace of state-level psychedelic policy changes—with projections indicating over half of U.S. states may legalize psychedelics by 2037—substantially outpaces existing scientific evidence on real-world psychedelic use, particularly in community settings where most consumption occurs outside controlled clinical trial environments.

The research deliverables include empirical data and analysis addressing three primary hypotheses: (1) rising interest in and use of psychedelics, particularly in jurisdictions with active decriminalization policies; (2) the impact of policy changes on use patterns and substance sourcing (illicit versus licit); and (3) the relationship between psychedelic use and other drug use patterns. The study will generate evidence-based findings on the safety profile, prevalence patterns, and health outcomes associated with psychedelic use in real-world contexts, thereby informing public health policy and clinical practice as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve. Research will be conducted at the University of Michigan's facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan.