OHSU-led research initiative examines supervised psilocybin in Oregon community settings with a 5-year NIDA award to study safety and effectiveness

Psilocybin services are being studied in real-world, state-regulated community settings through a federally funded, 5-year research initiative led by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded $3.3 million for the project, described as the first federally funded effort to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of legal psychedelic services delivered outside traditional clinical trial settings. OHSU investigators and partners will assess psilocybin access in Oregon, where state-regulated supervised services became available in 2023 for people ages 21 and older. The study focuses on people with substance use disorders, tracking outcomes over time after psilocybin sessions, including potential safety risks and benefits. Researchers aim to recruit at least 1,600 participants over five years and compare changes for people who want to reduce use of intoxicating substances with and without psilocybin services, while also examining which substances and subpopulations may respond.