Psychedelic Drug Rising in ‘Popularity and Availability’ in the US

Psychedelic drug use may be on the rise across the U.S., officials have warned.

Seizures of psilocybin—a compound found in magic mushrooms—nearly quadrupled in just five years, a new study has found, with drug seizures rising from 226 kilograms (498 pounds) in 2017 to 844 kilograms in 2022.

“Our findings, which uncover an increase in confiscations of psilocybin, suggest that popularity and availability of this psychedelic may be increasing,” the study’s lead author, Joseph Palamar, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone Health, said in a statement.

The study, led by researchers from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and other members of the National Drug Early Warning System, highlights the potential risks associated with recreational and unsupervised use of the drug. “Although psilocybin is by no means the most dangerous drug, adverse effects do happen, so heightened prevention efforts and harm-reduction education may be necessary,” Palamar said.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring chemical produced by some species of fungi known to have mind-altering qualities, similar to those of LSD. In small amounts, scientists are exploring its use as a potential therapeutic in treating conditions like alcohol use disorder, post-traumatic stress and depression. However, in larger doses, this drug can have serious side effects.

In a 2022 study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers found that 19 out of 9,233 magic mushroom users had reported seeking emergency medical treatment after using the drug. More commonly, users may experience hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks after taking the drug.

In recent years, restrictions on psilocybin have been loosened in a number of American cities, although our understanding about the popularity of the drug is fairly limited.

In the recent study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the highest number of psilocybin seizures was in the Midwest, at 36 percent of confiscations. The West followed closely behind, representing 33 percent of confiscations. The West also represented the largest volume of psilocybin seizures, accounting for 43 percent of the total 4,380 kilograms confiscated during the study period.

“These results highlight the need to better understand not only how the availability and popularity of psilocybin is changing and why, but also how the drug affects those who use it recreationally,” Palamar said.

The researchers pointed out that more research is required to specifically examine whether decriminalization efforts around psilocybin and other drugs have affected their use and the number of seizures.