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- Psilocybin use among U.S. adults over 30 went up by 188% from 2019 to 2023.
- Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown fast, lasting relief for depression symptoms.
- Adults with moderate-to-severe depression are 3x more likely to use psilocybin than those without symptoms.
- Poison center calls for children under age 12 linked to psilocybin rose 723%.
- The FDA has given psilocybin "breakthrough therapy" status for treating major depressive disorder.
Today, psilocybin use is not just for a small group anymore. It's a growing part of talks about mental health in America. More adults are looking for different ways to treat issues instead of traditional ones.
Psychedelics like psilocybin are being looked at again as real tools for healing, learning about oneself, and feeling better. What is causing the big increase in psilocybin use? And how might psychedelic therapy change how we deal with depression, anxiety, and trauma later on? Let's look at the latest science, social reasons, and cultural changes behind this growing trend.
What Is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a natural substance that causes hallucinations. You find it in over 180 kinds of mushrooms. The most well-known are in the Psilocybe group. People usually eat the dried mushrooms or drink them brewed in tea. Once inside the body, psilocybin changes into psilocin. This psilocin works with serotonin receptors in the brain.
This connection, especially with the 5-HT2A receptor, changes how people sense things, feel, and think. People might see things differently, feel deep thoughts, have spiritual feelings, release emotions, and sometimes feel like their usual sense of self goes away for a bit.
Studies on the brain have shown that psilocybin can:
- Make the brain’s default mode network (DMN) less active. This network is often linked to repeated thoughts and thinking about oneself, which you see in depression.
- Help the brain make new connections.
- Make more parts of the brain talk to each other in new ways.
These brain changes might be why psilocybin could help with problems that come from fixed or bad ways of thinking.
A Look at the Numbers: Who's Using Psilocybin Today?
The rise in psilocybin use is not just talk. It's backed by clear data from national surveys. This data suggests a big change in how people in the U.S. are using psychedelics. Rockhill et al. (2024) found that over 31 million adults—12.1% of the population—say they have used psilocybin at some point in their lives.
Here is a look at recent changes:
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Psilocybin use in the past year:
- 2.1% of U.S. adults used it in 2023.
- That's more than the use of cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, and non-prescribed opioids.
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Growth by age:
- Adults aged 18–29 used it 44% more from 2019 to 2023.
- Adults aged 30+ used it 188% more in the same time.
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Who is using it:
- Psilocybin was once popular with younger people often interested in trying new things or part of counterculture groups. Now, it's also becoming popular with people who have jobs, parents, and older people.
These numbers show a national trend. Psilocybin isn’t just for people at festivals or those looking for spiritual experiences anymore. It's becoming a tool for many Americans to help with their mental health.
The Real Reasons: Mental Health, Chronic Pain & Trying to Treat Oneself
Why is psilocybin use going up so fast? The reasons involve problems with healthcare, many people dealing with mental health issues, and people taking steps to heal themselves.
Depression and Anxiety
Over 21 million U.S. adults have major depression each year. Traditional treatments, like certain antidepressants (SSRIs), often take a long time to work and don't help everyone enough. SSRIs usually need weeks to show effects, and you have to take them every day. And they don't always make the symptoms go away completely.
But psilocybin therapy might involve just one or a few deep psychedelic experiences. This is often done with support. The goal is to change old patterns of thinking and feeling.
People with moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety or depression are almost three times more likely to say they use psilocybin than those without symptoms. This suggests that people are trying to treat themselves when other options don't work.
PTSD and Emotional Trauma
Many users say they use psilocybin to work through trauma that hasn't healed. The deep thinking about oneself, plus the brain changes, helps some people look at painful memories in a different way. This can make those memories feel less strong.
Chronic Pain
New research is looking at how psychedelics might help with chronic pain. The idea is that psilocybin could help reduce pain by lowering worry, changing how people feel pain, and helping the brain change patterns that make suffering worse.
This is still being tested. But the idea is appealing to those who are stuck taking opioid medicines and dealing with pain that makes life hard.
Legal and Cultural Changes Since 2019
Psilocybin use would not have become so accepted so quickly without huge changes in laws and culture over the last five years. What used to happen in secret therapy sessions or hidden mushroom hunts is now being talked about in public health, colleges, and politics.
Decriminalization & Legalization Steps
- 2019 – Denver is the first U.S. city to stop making it a crime to have small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms for personal use.
- 2020 – Oregon goes further. It makes regulated psilocybin therapy legal with trained people helping. It is the first state to do this.
- 2022 – Colorado passes laws to stop making some psychedelics a crime. It also sets up state-regulated healing centers where people can use them with supervision.
Several other cities and states are also thinking about similar laws. Or they are choosing not to strongly enforce existing laws.
Mainstream Media and How People See It
TV shows like “How to Change Your Mind” (Netflix) and popular books like Michael Pollan’s “This Is Your Mind On Plants” have brought psychedelic therapy into homes across the country. Public interest has gone up a lot as people learn about what psilocybin can do, beyond just having fun.
Also, more people are unhappy with traditional health systems. This was especially true during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This has made people more interested in different options outside of the drug industry.
The Rise of Psychedelic Therapy
Maybe the main reason psilocybin is widely accepted is that scientists increasingly agree it can help as a treatment.
Clinical Trials and Mental Health Results
In recent years, big institutions like Johns Hopkins, NYU, and Imperial College London have done important studies. These studies show that psychedelic therapy can lead to big improvements in mental health.
Some main findings include:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD): In a Johns Hopkins study, two doses of psilocybin with therapy support led to depression symptoms being 71% lower after four weeks.
- Depression that doesn't respond to treatment: A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed much better results compared to standard antidepressants.
- Anxiety about dying: Patients who were near the end of life and were given psilocybin said they were less afraid of death and felt more peace.
- Substance use: Psilocybin therapy has helped people in studies reduce their need for alcohol and tobacco.
These therapies are not just people taking drugs on their own. They involve trained professionals, careful settings, and talking about the experience with a therapist before and after.
FDA and Breakthrough Therapy Status
In 2019 and again in 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave psilocybin “breakthrough therapy” status for depression. This status helps speed up the testing and approval of treatments that look promising. This status means FDA-approved psilocybin therapy is on a fast track. It could mean that prescription psychedelics might be available in mental health clinics in a few years.
Psilocybin vs. Medicines: A Natural Mental Health Option?
Many people are turning to psilocybin as a natural option. It is not a traditional medicine. It is seen as working with the mind rather than just treating symptoms.
How They Are Different from Traditional Medicines
- How often you take them: Most antidepressants need to be taken every day. Psilocybin therapy might be one or two guided sessions a year.
- Bad effects: SSRIs can cause weight gain, make people feel numb, and cause sexual problems. Psilocybin’s bad effects happen right away (like seeing things or feeling sick). But they don't last long, usually no more than a day.
- How they work: SSRIs put more serotonin in the brain. Psilocybin changes how brain parts connect a lot. It helps people get new understanding through deep experiences.
Still, therapy is needed. Without support from therapy, the good effects of psilocybin might go away or even cause problems. It's not just a "magic pill". But it can help reset mental health when used with proper therapy.
Health Concerns and Poison Center Calls
As more people use psilocybin, there are also more unplanned problems. A 2024 study found that calls to poison control centers about psilocybin went up a lot:
- 201% increase for adults
- 317% increase for teenagers
- 723% increase for children under 12. Most of these were because children ate mushrooms by accident.
These numbers show that people need to:
- Keep mushrooms stored safely at home, especially away from curious kids.
- Teach people about the right amount to use and how to tell different mushrooms apart.
- Have professional support for people using psilocybin for the first time or taking a high dose.
Even though poison center calls went up, data from emergency rooms shows few official diagnoses. This suggests that doctors might not be marking or recognizing problems related to psilocybin correctly. This could mean these problems are not being fully counted.
"Plan Before You Trip": Tips for Using Psilocybin More Safely
Planning carefully and acting responsibly are very important for a safe psilocybin experience. Here is how to have a smarter trip:
- Don’t use it alone. This is especially true for your first time. Someone who is not using mushrooms can help make sure you are safe.
- Control your setting. Choose a quiet place where you won't be bothered by people or sudden noises.
- Think about your mindset. Go into the experience with curiosity, not fear or trying to run away from problems.
- Keep doses small to medium. Start with about 1 to 2 grams dried mushrooms. This helps keep the effects from being too strong.
- Drink water—but don’t drink alcohol or use other substances.
- Think about it afterward. Writing in a journal or talking with a therapist can help you understand the experience and make it more meaningful.
And always—lock mushrooms away when you are not using them.
Growing at Home: More People Are Growing Mushrooms
As more people want to get psilocybin safely and without spending too much, growing it at home is becoming popular. In some states, it might be legal to grow mushrooms for yourself or to learn about them.
Good things about growing at home:
- You know what you are taking: You know exactly what's in the mushrooms. No extra stuff or guessing.
- Good for the environment: No packaging, no shipping, and no connection to illegal drug trade.
- You learn something: Learning about mushrooms helps people respect them and use them safely.
Zombie Mushrooms helps you with growing mushrooms. We have grow kits, information, and step-by-step help. Whether you are growing Lion's Mane for brain health or growing psilocybin mushrooms where it's legal, we think learning is key to feeling ready.
Who Should Not Use Psilocybin
Even though psilocybin looks promising, it's not right for everyone. Doctors say people should be careful or not use it at all in certain cases:
- People who or whose family members have had schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, or other mental illnesses with strange thoughts or behavior.
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Not enough research exists on how it affects unborn babies or infants.
- Children and teenagers. Their brains are still growing. They might be more likely to feel too overwhelmed.
- Those taking certain antidepressants (SSRIs or MAOIs). Psilocybin might not work as well, or it could cause dangerous reactions.
Talk to a doctor before using psychedelics. This is especially important if you are taking any medicine for mental health right now.
What the Future Looks Like: Law, Science, and Public Health Trends
The future of psilocybin will likely be a mix of people trying it on their own, legal use in therapy, and regulated medical care. You can expect:
- States passing more laws to make it less of a crime or allow medical use.
- More use in clinics, including therapy centers, trained people helping with psychedelics, and maybe insurance covering it.
- More safety rules, community learning, and proper ways to use it.
- More studies, especially looking at how it helps with problems with drug use and trauma.
As psychedelic therapy gets FDA approval and more people accept it, health systems will need to change. They will need to handle both the need for therapy and concerns about public health.
Psilocybin Is Growing—Our Understanding Should Too
More people using psilocybin shows it is more than just psychedelics becoming popular again. It shows that many people want healing that traditional ways haven't given them. Millions of people are now looking at psychedelic therapy. Not as a way to escape, but as a clear path to feeling whole.
As it becomes more popular, we need to take responsibility to learn about it. And we should treat these substances with the respect they need. When science, smart rules, and respectful use support psilocybin, it might help change mental health care from the start.
Zombie Mushrooms is here to help you learn and try these things mindfully. We have tools to grow mushrooms, information, and trusted resources. Whether you want to know about using them safely, growing your own, or understanding the science—you are not alone on this path.
See our mushroom grow kits today.
Reference
Rockhill, K. M., Black, J. C., Ladka, M. S., Sumbundu, K. B., Olsen, H. A., Jewell, J. S., Hunt, J., Wolf, R. C., Nerurkar, K., Dart, R. C., & Monte, A. A. (2024). The Rise of Psilocybin Use in the United States: A Multisource Observational Study. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03145
