Summary: Mushroom use in the U. S. has risen quickly across all age groups since 2019, coinciding with increasing legislation and involvement in its healing potential. A new study reveals a 44 % rise in past-year use among young adults and a 188 % increase among those over 30.
While some users report mental health issues or chronic pain, poison centre calls linked to mushroom have likewise skyrocketed—especially among teenagers and children. The results highlight the urgent need for better recording, public knowledge, and medical preparedness as attention outpaces regulation.
Important Information:
- Rapid Rise: Psilocybin use jumped from 10 % to 12. 1 % of U. S. parents between 2019 and 2023.
- Health Risks: Poison center calls increased by 201 % in adults and 723 % in children.
- Statistical Shift: The largest increases in utilize were among young people and individuals over 30.
Origin: University of Colorado
Use of mushroom, the psychedelic substance found in what is known as “magic mushrooms, ” has increased significantly nationwide since 2019, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety.
The study was published now in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The scientists found that beneficial usage increased across all age groups, with the largest increase in young adults and older people.
“We found that since 2019, the number of people using mushroom has gone up sharply, ” said Karilynn Rockhill, PhD, co-lead author of the study and scientist at the Colorado School of Public Health.
“This seems to line up with when some U. S. says began to criminalize or allow it. ”
Some of the most important findings include:
- Lifetime use among adults rose from 10 % in 2019 ( about 25 million people ) to 12. 1 % in 2023 ( over 31 million people ).
- Past-year use increased by 44 % among young adults ( ages 18–29 ) and 188 % among adults over 30.
- People with mental health conditions or chronic pain were more likely to record using mushroom.
- Psilocybin-related poison centre calls rose considerably. 201 % in adults, 317 % in teens and 723 % in children between 2019 and 2023.
- In 2023, more people used serotonin than drugs like cocaine, LSD, meth or improper opiates.
“ What truly surprised us was how quickly these statistics changed and how many people using mushroom had problems like depression, anxiety or chronic pain, ” said Rockhill.
“New rules or growing interest in its potential mental health benefits does become prompting people to seek mushroom as a form of self-treatment. ”
Psilocybin has been studied as a possible treatment for conditions like PTSD, depression and substance use disorders, though it is not yet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ).
“Public opinions on mushroom are shifting. However, that means we also need to make sure people understand the risks, know how to use it properly if they choose to and that health care systems are determined, ” said Joshua Black, PhD, co-lead writer and senior scholar at Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, a section of Denver Health.
The study also revealed a difference in how well existing health programming techniques track psilocybin-related issues in emergency departments. While poison centre calling have gone far up, very few cases are recorded in clinic outpatient data.
“If facilities and common health systems aren’t seeing the whole picture, they can’t answer correctly, ” said Black. “Improved monitoring tools and knowledge are important as more states consider regulating or legalizing psi. ”
The investigation utilized information from five main national surveys from 2014-2023. Data was used from 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 was a cooperative initiative with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration ( SAMHSA ), but the views expressed around are those of the artists and may not reflect the opportunities of SAMHSA.
About this psychiatry analysis news
Publisher: Laura Kelley
Source: University of Colorado
Contact: Laura Kelley – University of Colorado
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed entry.
“The Rise of Psilocybin Use in the United States: A Multisource Observational Study ” by Karilynn Rockhill et al. Annals of Internal Medicine
Abstract
The Rise of Psilocybin Use in the United States: A Multisource Observational Study
Background : Mushroom is being studied as a possible treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. As the first hallucinogenic compound decriminalized in some state within the United States, habits of psilocybin use have likely changed.
Goal : To calculate change in occurrence and health care utilization of psilocybin users between 2014 and 2023.
Procedures : We included 5 nationally representative data sets: 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)
