Report · Health

Natural or synthetic: which drug would people choose?

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 1 to 4, 2026, 58% of Americans preferred the natural drug option in a treatment scenario, including 36% who strongly preferred it and 22% who slightly preferred it.

A quarter had no preference between the synthetic and natural drugs, while 17% preferred the synthetic option.

Topline

single choice

Topline distribution

58% preferred the natural drug option in a treatment scenario.

Studies have shown it to be effective in 85% of users and to have mild side effects on rare occasions and serious side effects in 1.0% of users.

  • I strongly prefer the natural drug (option 2) 36.3%
  • I have no preference between the synthetic and natural drugs 24.6%
  • I slightly prefer the natural drug (option 2) 22.3%
  • I slightly prefer the synthetic drug (option 1) 9.9%
  • I strongly prefer the synthetic drug (option 1) 6.9%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.2%

1

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.2%
Module
1

Source

Citation

SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026#q-1-25

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.