The use of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” has seen a significant increase among U.S. adults, doubling since Denver’s decision to decriminalize the substance in 2019.
A peer-reviewed study conducted by researchers from Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety revealed that the rate of psilocybin use among adults has grown dramatically, from approximately 1% before 2019 to about 2.1% in 2023.
This increase means that more adults are now using psilocybin than substances such as cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, or illicit opioids, making it the second most widely used drug in the U.S. after cannabis.
Joshua Black, one of the authors of the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, stated, “The primary conclusion here is that psilocybin isn’t a niche drug anymore. Its use has doubled since 2019, overshadowing other illicit drugs that are often associated with negative outcomes for users.”
The study aimed to assess how psilocybin use patterns have changed over different age groups since decriminalization, and researchers utilized five nationally representative data sets, including the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Poison Data System, to estimate usage rates.
Findings showed that the estimated percentage of U.S. adults who have used psilocybin at least once in their lifetime increased from 10% in 2019 to 12.1% by 2023.
This translates to over 31 million adults having tried the drug, as opposed to around 25 million just a few years ago.
Furthermore, the study reported a noteworthy rise in past-year psilocybin use among young adults ages 18 to 29, which increased by 44%, while usage among older adults surged by 188%.
Interestingly, the increases were not limited to the adult population. The percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 who reported having used psilocybin in their lifetimes rose slightly from 1.1% in 2019 to 1.3% in 2023, marking an increase from roughly 285,000 adolescents to around 344,000.
With millions more individuals using psilocybin than in previous years, the implications regarding health outcomes are significant.
Black stressed that it is essential to understand both the positive and negative health outcomes associated with psilocybin use.
“On one hand, there could be quite a positive benefit for individuals,” he said. “On the other hand, however, there are certainly potential adverse outcomes associated with psilocybin use.”
Researchers found a troubling trend when analyzing data related to healthcare outcomes related to psilocybin use.
Notably, while reports of psilocybin exposures to poison control centers increased significantly, there were comparably few recorded instances of psilocybin poisoning at emergency departments and outpatient facilities.
The study revealed that between 2019 and 2023, the rate of psilocybin exposures reported to poison centers climbed 201% among adults, 317% among adolescents, and 723% among children aged zero to 11.
In 2023 alone, there were 1,192 cases of psilocybin exposure reported involving adults, 542 involving adolescents, and 288 involving children — with about 75% of these cases necessitating healthcare intervention.
However, analyzing another data set, the researchers discovered only three cases of psilocybin poisoning documented at emergency departments and outpatient facilities between 2015 and 2021.
Black noted that this discrepancy raises important questions regarding future data collection and monitoring of psilocybin use as the legal landscape changes.
From a research perspective, he emphasized the need for robust data sets to accurately track changes in psilocybin use and ensure public safety as more individuals engage with the drug.
For those considering the use of psilocybin, Black advised careful planning: “Plan before you trip,” he recommended, suggesting users find a secure environment and engage with a trusted friend who is not under the influence to assist in case they experience a negative reaction.
The study concluded that the decriminalization of psilocybin has undoubtedly led to a notable increase in use across age demographics, a trend that policymakers should closely monitor.
Similar to the trends seen with cannabis decriminalization, Black anticipates that psilocybin use will continue to rise as the drug becomes increasingly decriminalized across various jurisdictions.
“Decriminalization does affect the prevalence of use when a drug is more available; it becomes less stigmatized with fewer criminal penalties,” Black observed.
He added, “As long as the decriminalization process continues, we’ll likely see an increase in usage over time. If that process halts, we may see a plateauing of use. But the data will tell, and time will tell.”
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