Psilocybin Use Surges Nationwide- Especially Among Those with Mental Health Conditions, New Study Finds

A new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety reveals a sharp rise in psilocybin use across the U.S. since 2019, with significant increases among young and older adults. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study links the uptick to shifts in state laws and growing public interest in the hallucinogen's potential mental health benefits.

Key findings include:

Lifetime psilocybin use among U.S. adults rose from 10% in 2019 to over 12% in 2023- translating to more than 31 million people.

Past-year use increased 44% among adults ages 18–29, and 188% among those over 30.

Individuals with mental health issues or chronic pain were significantly more likely to report psilocybin use.

Poison center calls related to psilocybin spiked dramatically- up 201% for adults, 317% for teens, and 723% for children.

Researchers emphasized the need for greater education, improved tracking systems, and healthcare preparedness as public use continues to rise. They also highlighted a critical gap in hospital data collection, which underrepresents psilocybin-related issues despite a steep rise in poison center reports.

“Public perceptions are evolving rapidly,” said co-lead author Joshua Black, PhD. “But so must our healthcare systems, especially as more states consider legal regulation of psilocybin.”

The study analyzed data from five major national surveys between 2014 and 2023, in collaboration with SAMHSA, though the views expressed are solely those of the authors.

Source: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/more-americans-are-using-psilocybin-especially-those-with-mental-health-conditions-study-shows