Study links rising psilocybin use in the US since 2019 to mental health conditions and sharp increases in poison center calls

Psilocybin use in the United States increased significantly from 2019 to 2023, with the largest rise in young adults and older adults. Adults reported higher lifetime use (10% in 2019 to 12.1% in 2023), and past year use grew especially among young adults ages 18-29 and adults over 30. People with mental health conditions or chronic pain were more likely to report using psilocybin. Poison center calls tied to psilocybin rose dramatically between 2019 and 2023, and in 2023 adults used psilocybin more than several other drugs such as cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, or illegal opioids. The study also highlights gaps in hospital coding and tracking of psilocybin-related problems in emergency and ambulatory settings, arguing that improved tracking and education are needed as more states consider regulating or legalizing psilocybin.