The dark side of the shroom boom: alleged abuse in psychedelic medicine as the $10 billion industry grows

Psychedelic medicine growth around psilocybin is being shadowed by claims of harm inside nonclinical “healing” settings. A case described in Atlanta centers on a training program run by EAST (Entheogenic Assisted Spiritual Transformation). A participant says a high-dose ceremony led to a painful sexual assault by a staff member, and that a response by the organization initially relied on internal belief rather than enforceable safeguards; the accused staffer denies the allegation. Separate accusations also surfaced about inappropriate touching by the founder, which he denies. The broader argument is that legalization and decriminalization have outpaced oversight. The article frames this as a “Wild West” market where high-demand training programs, limited regulation, and the suggestibility created by psychedelic experiences can enable exploitative or cultlike dynamics, even while investors and cities treat psilocybin and “consciousness medicine” as a fast-growing industry.