Psilocybin is a research darling as the world rediscovers the power of magic mushrooms. The fruiting bodies have proven promising in studies on patients with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Other data indicates that the naturally-growing psychedelic is more effective than SSRIs for treating depression. Scientifically-backed research on the topic is exciting but somewhat new. For generations, interested psychonauts shared trip stories and mushroom grow tips on anonymous forums like Erowid.
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Personal experiences were the best available information in many cases. That has led to an experimental vibe when it comes to psilocybin. These mushrooms are not legal in most places, and those who try them are often doing so at their own risk. Still, many are turning to these fungal teachers. New research shows that 188 percent more people from one group are trying magic mushrooms.
Psilocybin use is on the rise
A newly released report drew from five nationally representative data sets to discover that more people are journeying than ever–not always a good thing.
Neuroscience News reported on the research analysis. It drew from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMURx), Monitoring the Future (MTF), the National Poison Data System (NPDS), and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). These reports provided information on psilocybin use from 2014 to 2023, which showed a sharp uptick of consumption in 2019.
The analysis indicates that 188 percent more people over 30 had tried psilocybin in the last year of recorded data (2023). Young adults showed a 44 percent rise in past-year use. Reported lifetime psilocybin use increased from 10 to 12 percent. The information is limited to anyone who reported these data points. There are potentially more people tripping in the world who did not disclose, or the respondents could lie.
Those with mental health disorders or chronic pain were more likely to report their use. This was the drug of choice, too. More adults chose psilocybin over cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, or illegal opioids in 2023. Unfortunately, shroom poison center calls rose 201 percent in adults, 317 percent in teens, and 723 percent in children from 2019 to 2023. This could translate literally as an increase in emergency experiences. It may also show that people were more apt to report incidents due to loosening psilocybin laws, or a combination of both.
More people are interested in psilocybin than ever, and they are apparently acting on that curiosity. As more reach for the shroom tea, there are some ways public health professionals can support them.
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What this data means for public health
The study authors point to a few solutions and implementations to respond to the growing popularity of this substance. Public education around the safe storage of psilocybin is key, especially now that there are gummies and other candy-adjacent products. People should also understand how to participate safely and what could help temper adverse events. The Althea Are You Ready For A Psychedelic Experience Quiz is a good example of how to support people preparing to trip.
The research also indicates a need for public health professionals. Healthcare workers should be prepared for how the growing interest in these compounds could impact patients. There is also a call for better tracking of adverse psilocybin events. More finite data points help researchers understand a detailed picture of what the public needs.
With interest at an all-time high, healthcare professionals and hopeful psychonauts must stay informed on how to prepare for a trip, potential risks, and how to respond if someone faces the worst.
