MORE AMERICANS ARE TAKING MAGIC MUSHROOMS

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In particular, use of the hallucinogenic substance increased by 44 percent in 2023 among young adults aged between 18 and 29.

Use of psilocybin—the psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms"—has risen across the U.S. in all ages groups since the drug was partially decriminalized in 2019.

The hallucinogen was decriminalized following evidence that it can have positive impacts on a number of mental health illnesses with psychosomatic symptoms—such as addiction, severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psilocybin became the first hallucinogenic substance to be decriminalized in the U.S. after Denver, Colorado voted to legalize possession of it in 2019.

Researchers from Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety in Denver and colleagues studied five nationally representative data sets to track changes in the prevalence of the substance across the U.S.

The team found that psilocybin use increased by 44 percent over 2023 among young adults aged 18 to 29, and by 188 percent among older adults. "Past year use" for 2023 among 12th graders was also revealed to have increased by 53 percent since 2019.

Surveys indicated that psilocybin use was relatively stable before 2019. However, since then, lifetime use among adults and adolescents has seen a sharp increase, with those with mental or physical comorbidities among the most common users.

"The growing interest in psilocybin is largely fueled by increasing evidence of its therapeutic potential," Dr. Alexander Joshua Eisenberg, a medical doctor based in Florida, told Newsweek.

"Clinical research has shown promise in psilocybin-assisted therapy for a range of mental health conditions.

"These findings have opened the door for many individuals, across age groups, to explore alternative approaches to managing emotional distress and psychological challenges—especially in an era when traditional treatments don't always provide adequate relief."

In 2023, past year psilocybin use among adults was recorded to be even higher than estimates for cocaine.

The data also showed that the rate of psilocybin exposures reported to U.S. poison centers had increased, by 201 percent in adults, 317 percent in adolescents and 723 percent in children, indicating a growing pull towards the substance across the board.

The study, which has been published in Annals of Internal Medicine, aimed to quantify the change in prevalence and health care utilization of psilocybin users between 2014 and 2023.

Psilocybin in the US

Psilocin binds with serotonin receptors in the brain, specifically the 5-HT2C receptor regulating neurotransmitter chemicals that can control feelings of appetite, cognition, anxiety, imagination, mood and perception.

A 2016 study indicated that the substance can have a positive effect on those with "untreatable" depression, adding further momentum to efforts to legalize it towards the end of the decade.

The initiative did not legalize "shrooms" in Denver, the first state to take steps towards decriminalization, but prohibited Denver from spending any resources to prosecute people for their use or possession.

Now, the substance has been decriminalized in other regions. In Oregon, for example, the compound has been legalized for medical use, while California has decriminalized it in select municipalities.

However, "shrooms" remain illegal in 33 U.S. states.

"The rise in use where it is allowed is also linked to changing laws and shifting cultural perceptions," Eisenberg said. "Decriminalization in several U.S. cities and states has reduced legal barriers, making psilocybin more accessible.

"Combined with a surge in media coverage highlighting both personal success stories and emerging scientific data, public perception has evolved—helping to destigmatize psychedelic use and frame it as a possible mental health tool."

The medical doctor warned that despite the positive light the press has shone on the substance, psilocybin use is generally unadvised in unsupervised environments.

"It can lead to acute psychological distress, particularly in those with pre-existing mental health conditions," he added. "As interest grows, it's important that people approach its use thoughtfully, ideally in structured, supportive settings that prioritize safety and integration."

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