Religious Panic Over Psychedelics

Popular conservative and religious media figures are increasingly framing psychedelic experiences as spiritual danger — including demonic encounters and exorcisms — rather than as medical or therapeutic phenomena. That framing circulates on podcasts and social platforms and can mobilize stigma, legislative resistance to therapy rollouts, and informal community pressure against users and researchers. — If prominent religious voices amplify horror/spiritual‑harm stories, they can reshape public opinion and slow or redirect policy and clinical programs for psychedelic therapies.