Use of Psilocybin, or “Magic Mushrooms,” Rises Across All Age Groups Following 2019 Decriminalization

In recent years, the use of psilocybin—colloquially known as “magic mushrooms”—has undergone a significant uptick across diverse age groups in the United States. This trend follows a landmark shift beginning in 2019, when certain states moved toward decriminalizing this naturally occurring psychedelic compound. Psilocybin’s profound effects on human cognition, mood, and perception have long fascinated neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and policy makers alike. However, until recently, concrete data quantifying the extent of its use and the demographic contours of its consumers have been lacking. A comprehensive multisource observational study, spanning nearly a decade of data from 2014 through 2023, sheds critical light on how psilocybin prevalently permeates varying age cohorts and the accompanying implications for public health and regulatory frameworks.

The researchers leveraged five nationally representative data sets to derive annual estimates of psilocybin use prevalence and associated health care interactions across the United States. These data repositories included 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). This multidimensional approach allowed for a nuanced analysis that captured not just the extent of consumption but also potential health-related consequences as reported through poison control centers and hospital visits.

Before 2019, the prevalence of psilocybin use remained relatively stable, reflecting its legal and cultural status during that period. However, post-decriminalization, the study identified an unmistakable surge in both lifetime and past-year use among adolescents, young adults, and older adults alike. For instance, past-year psilocybin use among young adults aged 18 to 29 increased by 44%, while among older adults, the increase was an astonishing 188%. The data also revealed that use among 12th graders has risen by 53% since decriminalization, reaching a prevalence rate of 2.5% in 2023. These figures mark a pivotal shift in societal attitudes and accessibility, ushering an era in which psychedelic consumption is becoming increasingly mainstream.

Of particular interest is the elevated prevalence of psilocybin use among adults with existing mental health or chronic physical conditions. This demographic appears to be among the most common users, potentially reflecting growing interest in the compound’s reported therapeutic effects. Scientific investigations have increasingly highlighted psilocybin’s potential efficacy in alleviating refractory depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. While these therapeutic avenues remain under rigorous clinical investigation, the real-world data suggest an organic gravitation of affected individuals towards psilocybin as an alternative or adjunctive treatment modality.

The public health implications of this upward trend are complex and multifaceted. Alongside increased use, the rate of psilocybin exposures reported to U.S. poison centers has escalated dramatically, with a 201% increase in adults, a 317% rise in adolescents, and a startling 723% surge among children. These numbers raise urgent questions about safe consumption practices, potential toxicity, and the readiness of healthcare infrastructures to respond to adverse events related to psychedelic substances. Health care providers and policy makers must grapple with these dynamics to design interventions that balance accessibility, harm reduction, and public safety.

Furthermore, 2023 data demonstrate that past-year psilocybin use among adults has surpassed the prevalence rates of several established illicit substances, including cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, and illicit opioids. This phenomenon underscores the rapid normalization of psilocybin within the landscape of psychoactive drug use in the United States. It also prompts a reevaluation of drug scheduling policies and the prioritization of research funding aimed at understanding psilocybin’s pharmacology, long-term effects, and interactions with other substances.

The decriminalization movement that catalyzed this rise in use reflects both shifting public opinions and emerging scientific evidence advocating for reconsideration of psychedelics’ societal role. States that have implemented decriminalization policies typically remove criminal penalties for possession and personal use, facilitating easier accessibility and reducing legal risks for users. This policy shift is often accompanied by initiatives that promote education, safe usage guidelines, and investments in clinical research infrastructures to further elucidate therapeutic potentials.

From a neuropharmacological perspective, psilocybin exerts its psychedelic effects primarily via agonism at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. This receptor activation triggers a cascade of neurobiological responses that remodels intrinsic brain networks, alters sensory processing, and engenders subjective experiences characterized by altered consciousness and perceptual shifts. The emergent surge in use across broad demographics likely reflects both its increasing cultural acceptance and the expanding body of evidence demonstrating its potential clinical utility.

Given the data indicating use among vulnerable populations including minors and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, there is a pronounced need for enhanced public health strategies. Surveillance systems must evolve to monitor patterns of use, adverse events, and long-term outcomes. Equally, health care providers should be equipped with up-to-date resources to engage with patients who use psilocybin, guiding them on potential risks and benefits. Educational campaigns tailored to diverse communities could mitigate unintentional harm while supporting informed decision-making.

Moreover, the increase in psilocybin exposure-related poisonings calls for strategic investments in poison centers, emergency departments, and addiction treatment programs to accommodate this changing landscape. Developing clinical protocols for managing psilocybin intoxications and integrating harm reduction principles into community health frameworks will be essential to minimize complications.

This study’s findings also resonate within the broader discourse on psychedelic drug policy reform globally, as several countries grapple with balancing prohibitionist legacies against emerging scientific insights. The U.S. experience could serve as a model for other nations contemplating regulated frameworks that enable both therapeutic access and public health safeguards.

In tandem with regulatory reforms, scientific inquiry must intensify across the spectrum, from basic neurobiology to phase 3 clinical trials, to illuminate psilocybin’s mechanisms, efficacy, dosing paradigms, and safety profiles. Large-scale epidemiological studies like this one provide indispensable benchmarking for clinicians and researchers, establishing the real-world impact of shifting policies.

In summary, the rise in psilocybin use in the United States reflects a societal pivot towards reexamining the roles of traditional psychoactive substances through lenses of both harm reduction and therapeutic potential. While the promise of psilocybin as a novel treatment avenue captivates many, comprehensive data underline the urgency of monitoring patterns of use, ensuring safe practices, and mobilizing health care resources to respond to a rapidly evolving drug landscape. As the 2020s unfold, psilocybin’s place in clinical practice and recreational culture will doubtless remain an area of dynamic research, policy experimentation, and public health dialogue.

Subject of Research: People

Article Title: The Rise of Psilocybin Use in the United States

News Publication Date: 22-Apr-2025

Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03145

Keywords: Drug research; Young people; Drug safety

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