Single-dose psilocybin with cognitive behavioral therapy produces markedly higher smoking quit rates than nicotine replacement in a Johns Hopkins trial

Psilocybin-assisted smoking cessation produced much higher abstinence rates than standard nicotine replacement in a Johns Hopkins randomized clinical trial. Adults who received one high dose of psilocybin alongside cognitive behavioral therapy were substantially more likely to remain tobacco-free at six months than participants using nicotine patches with the same therapeutic support. The treatment combined preparation, monitored dosing, and follow-up therapy, suggesting that the psychedelic session worked as part of a structured behavioral intervention rather than as a standalone drug effect. Researchers linked stronger outcomes to shifts in mood, meaning, and motivation that may help disrupt entrenched addiction patterns. The findings add to evidence that psilocybin may have clinical value beyond depression and anxiety, especially for hard-to-treat substance dependence. Larger studies, longer follow-up, and careful screening remain important before broader clinical adoption.