Research calls for better tracking of psilocybin-related issues as use in the US soars

US researchers call for better education, tracking, and health system preparedness in response to a substantial increase in poison center calls on psilocybin use. The team from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus notes that significantly more US citizens are using the hallucinogenic chemical found in “magic” mushrooms since 2019, mainly for mental health conditions.

Between 2019 and 2023, lifetime use among adults rose from 10%, or 25 million people, to 12.1%, or over 31 million people. At the same time, psilocybin-related poison center calls grew 201% in adults, 317% in teens, and 723% in children. 

The most significant rise in use was among young adults and older adults — 44% of young adults (aged 18–29) and 188% of adults over 30 reported using the compound in the past year. 

“We found that since 2019, the number of people using psilocybin has gone up sharply,” says Karilynn Rockhill, Ph.D., co-lead author of the study and researcher at the University of Colorado School of Public Health. “This seems to line up with when some US states began decriminalizing or legalizing it.”

Mental health benefits

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, notes that people with mental health conditions or chronic pain were more likely to report using psilocybin. The researchers found that in 2023, more adults used psilocybin than drugs such as cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, or illegal opioids. 

“What surprised us was how quickly these numbers changed and how many people using psilocybin had conditions like depression, anxiety, or chronic pain,” comments Rockhill. “New laws or growing interest in its potential mental health benefits may be prompting people to seek psilocybin as a form of self-treatment.”

Although not yet approved by the US FDA, psilocybin has been studied for its role in treating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or substance use disorders. 

Research links psilocybin to mental health benefits, such as reducing symptoms of depression.For example, earlier research found that psilocybin outperformed antidepressants in treating depressive symptoms. However, scientists reviewing randomized controlled clinical trials also called for more real-world research to clarify what factors maximize psilocybin’s treatment potential for depression symptoms. 

One study indicates that the compound temporarily but profoundly scrambles a network in brain areas involved in introspective thinking. The authors suggest that this finding provides a neurobiological explanation for psilocybin’s effects and may lay the groundwork for developing therapies for mental illness based on the compound. 

Moreover, a clinical trial last year suggested that the compound may offer mental benefits beyond depression treatment. The team found that people taking psilocybin instead of standard care reported improved psychosocial functioning, such as a greater sense of meaning in life and psychological connectedness. 

Tracking safety issues

At the same time, the study also revealed a gap in tracking psilocybin-related problems in emergency departments through medical coding systems. Although poison center calls increased substantially, the study authors note that very few cases are recorded in hospital ambulatory data. 

Poison center calls grew 201% in adults, 317% in teens, and 723% in children, but very few cases were recorded in hospital data.“Public views on psilocybin are shifting. However, that means we also need to make sure people understand the risks, know how to use it safely if they choose to, and that health care systems are prepared,” says Joshua Black, Ph.D., co-lead author and senior scientist at US Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, a division of Denver Health.

“If hospitals and public health systems aren’t seeing the full picture, they can’t respond appropriately,” he adds. “Improved tracking tools and education are critical as more states consider regulating or legalizing psilocybin.”

Last year, US law enforcement reported a 369% rise in seizures of magic mushrooms over five years. From 2017 to 2022, seizures of mushrooms containing psilocybin rose from 402 to 1,396, resulting in a total of 844 kg seized in 2022. 

The study on psilocybin use analyzed data from five national surveys from 2014 to 2023: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs, Monitoring the Future, the National Poison Data System, and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.