Can psilocybin treat addiction?

If you’ve been curious about whether psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”) could help with addiction, you’re not alone. Recent research is showing some really promising results, especially when it comes to tobacco and alcohol dependence. In fact, studies have found that people who took psilocybin as part of their treatment had surprisingly high success rates in quitting — and those benefits lasted even when researchers followed up months later (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2015; Johnson et al., 2014; Bogenschutz et al., 2015).

One of the most interesting findings is that the positive effects of psilocybin seem to be tied to the type of experience people have while under its influence. Researchers have noted that the mystical or deeply meaningful experiences that psilocybin can bring about are often linked with better treatment outcomes (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2015; Bogenschutz et al., 2018).

Another big plus? Psilocybin has a low risk of toxicity and addiction, which makes it relatively safe when used in a controlled setting under professional guidance (de Veen et al., 2017; Ziff et al., 2022). The way it works in the brain is pretty fascinating too — it activates 5-HT2A receptors, which are tied to mood, perception, and thinking (Johnson, 2022).

Of course, it’s not a magic bullet. Researchers are clear that while the early results are exciting, we still need larger, carefully controlled trials to fully understand how effective psilocybin really is (de Veen et al., 2017; Miranda et al., 2021). But overall, psilocybin is shaping up to be a promising new tool for treating substance use disorders — and that’s definitely something worth paying attention to.

So, could psilocybin help with addiction? The answer seems to be: maybe — and the science is pointing in a hopeful direction.

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