Psychedelic mushroom use spikes in young adults

Young adults nearly doubled their consumption of psychedelic mushrooms and other hallucinogens in the past three years, according to a new study.

The study’s lead author, Katherine Keyes, said that because the authorized therapeutic use of psychedelics is uncommon in the United States, the spikes are “undoubtedly in nonmedical and nontherapeutic use.” However, the study did not look into whether the increase was recreational or medicinal.

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The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and Columbia University, looked at the use of non-LSD hallucinogens and found Americans aged 19 to 30 had nearly doubled their consumption from 2018 to 2021, increasing from 3.4% to 6.6%.

Tracking participants in young adulthood and asking if they had used drugs such as LSD, mescaline, peyote, “shrooms” or psilocybin, and PCP, the study found significant increases for each drug except LSD, which increased from 3.7% to 4.2%. “Shrooms” or psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found commonly in hallucinogenic mushrooms, saw the highest increase.

When broken down demographically, people who are white, male, or whose parents have college educations are the most likely to have used hallucinogens.

According to federal data, marijuana and hallucinogen use reached an all-time high in 2021.

Co-author Megan Patrick warned the spike could be a cause for public health concern, as other studies have shown uncontrolled, nonmedical use of hallucinogens has been connected to the risk of a substance use disorder, self-harm, and anxiety.

One study detailed multiple adverse effects from psilocybin, including “fear or panic, paranoia, sadness or depressed mood, anger, cognitive effects (e.g. confusion, loss of ego, loss of sanity, delusions, dissociation, depersonalization)” and other negative outcomes. In some persons, those effects persist after the drug wears off.

“The use of psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs for a range of therapeutic uses is increasing, given accumulating yet still preliminary data from randomized trials on clinical effectiveness,” Keyes said. “With increased visibility for medical and therapeutic use, however, potentially comes diversion and unregulated product availability, as well as a lack of understanding among the public of potential risks.”

After years of strict prohibition, some hallucinogens are being put forward as possible treatments for conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, though the practice remains controversial.

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Last week, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced legislation to open federal funds to study the effects of psychedelics on treating service members who suffered brain injuries and mental health issues.

Crenshaw’s bill has broad-spectrum support, including from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

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