NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Find out more about NIDA-supported studies related to psilocybin. There is no data on the safety of taking psilocybin during pregnancy, for either a mother or a developing baby.
Reported use of most drugs among adolescents remained low in 2024
HIDTA seizures don’t encompass all drug seizures in the US; however, the researchers did observe similar overall increases by region based on data published by the DEA National Forensic Laboratory Information System. In addition, research suggests that psilocybin is the most consumed plant-based psychedelic drug in the United States, with 11.3% of individuals aged 12 or older in the United States reporting having ever used psilocybin in 2022. Self-reported data on the prevalence of their use is limited, though available research suggests that use of drugs like psilocybin that cause hallucinations has increased among adults aged in recent years. Though law enforcement seizures do not necessarily reflect prevalence of use, they represent an indicator of the availability of illicit drugs. Though there was a significant increase in the total weight of psilocybin mushrooms seized between 2017 and 2022 overall, the investigators found that the total weight seized peaked in 2021 (1,542 kg/3,400 lbs). In addition, the total weight of psilocybin mushrooms seized by law enforcement increased from 226 kg (498 lbs) seized in 2017 compared to 844 kg (1,861 lbs) in 2022.
What are psychedelic and dissociative drugs?
- These are part of the brain’s system for transporting glutamate, another neurotransmitter.
- Drugs that primarily influence the way the brain processes the chemical serotonin.
- NIDA also funds research on how and why people use these substances.
- Microdosing refers to regularly taking these drugs in very small amounts, typically one tenth to one twentieth of a typical non-clinical dose.
However, the legal status of some of these drugs is evolving. Microdosing refers to regularly taking these drugs in very small amounts, typically one tenth to one twentieth of a typical non-clinical dose. Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 0.2% (or about 493,000 people) had a hallucinogen use disorder in the past 12 months. To be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, a person must meet specific diagnostic criteria for continued substance use despite negative consequences. In a 1966 study where people with pre-existing psychoses were given LSD, three of 65 participants experienced persistent worsening of their psychiatric symptoms lasting 3-8 months.51
In modern psychedelic research, as a precaution, participants with previously diagnosed psychosis or bipolar Psilocybin Mushrooms disorder, and sometimes other mental illnesses, are excluded from participation. While dissociative drugs can alter perception, they also typically make people feel disconnected from their body and environment.6 These drugs can make people feel disconnected from their body and environment.6 Stigma can make individuals with substance use disorders less likely to seek treatment.
The FDA has also granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for two formulations of psilocybin being studied as potential medical treatments for depression. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the ketamine derivative esketamine (under the brand name Spravato®) as a treatment for severe depression in patients who do not respond to other treatments.49 The FDA has also granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for two formulations of psilocybin being studied as potential medical treatments for depression. In religious ceremonies.24 References to psychedelic drug use have been found in ancient texts from India and Greece.2
Are psychedelic and dissociative drugs addictive? Can people experience withdrawal?
The researchers found that most seizures occurred in the Midwest (36.0%), followed by the West (33.5%). NIH-supported research highlights need to better understand psilocybin in context of growing psychedelic use The institute also supports clinical investigations into psilocybin as a therapeutic substance. Though some people claim psilocybin has improved their symptoms, research to date has not established that microdosing is safe or effective.11
People may use them for their mind- and mood-altering effects, for recreation, or to have an emotional or spiritual experience. NIDA also funds research on how and why people use these substances. This basic research plays an important role in identifying their health effects and potential therapeutic uses.
- Psilocybin typically raises blood pressure and heart rate, which may be dangerous for people with heart conditions.
- Some people report taking magic mushrooms on their own hoping to achieve the same results, though additional research is needed to support this outcome.
- While researchers debate how to describe and classify psychedelic and dissociative drugs and other drugs with similar properties, they generally group these drugs according to how they work in the brain.3 Some people use the term “hallucinogens” to refer to all or some psychedelic and dissociative drugs.
- See NIDA-funded projects related to psychedelic and dissociative drugs, and learn more about related clinical trials.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. In addition, law enforcement efforts may vary across areas, and a higher number of seizures could be a result of increased vigilance by law enforcement. In recent years, possession of psilocybin has become increasingly decriminalized throughout the U.S. at the state level.
Depression and Anxiety
While many emerging and established substances are classified as psychedelic and dissociative drugs, NIDA-supported research mainly focuses on the following substances, which are more commonly used and/or are being investigated as potential medical treatments. NIDA supports and conducts research to learn whether some of these drugs may help treat substance use disorders in medical settings. Although research is ongoing, studies suggest psychedelic drugs—such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT—primarily affect 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which ordinarily are activated by the neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) serotonin.10 NIDA supports and conducts research on the short- and long-term health effects of psychedelic and dissociative drugs to better inform health decisions and policies related to their use. Researchers are also studying whether some of these substances may be effective treatments for mental health disorders, including addiction, when administered in a clinical setting.4,5
How many people have a hallucinogen use disorder?
Some people who take psilocybin have extreme fear, anxiety, panic, or paranoia as they experience its hallucinogenic effects, which is known as a “bad trip.”17 People may also experience side effects like agitation, confusion, vomiting or nausea, which may be severe and require medical attention.14 With more public interest and, in some areas, fewer legal restrictions on psilocybin use, exposures reported to poison control centers have increased over the past few years.15 Psilocybin is part of a group of drugs called psychedelics—or hallucinogens—that have the potential to change a person’s sense of reality, leading them to see, hear, and feel things that are not happening in real life, or to experience reality in a different way.2 People report that they microdose to lessen mental health symptoms such as depression and stress, improve productivity, and ease pain. PCP can also cause psychosis that persists for days to weeks.6,54 While it is not clear whether ketamine raises the risk of long-term psychosis, people who engage in regular recreational use of ketamine are more likely to experience delusions, even after weeks of abstinence.55 Animal studies show that long-term use of PCP or ketamine can cause brain changes resembling those seen in people with schizophrenia.56
How do psychedelic and dissociative drugs work in the brain?
The data used for the analysis were collected through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, a grant program aimed at reducing drug trafficking and misuse administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This analysis, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, was led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, New York City, and the University of Florida, Gainesville. The greatest total weight in seizures came from the West (1,864 kg/4,109 lbs, representing 42.6% of all seizures), followed by the South (1,832 kg/4,039 lbs, representing 41.8%). The number of law enforcement seizures increased from 402 seizures in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.
Drugs that primarily affect how the brain processes the chemical glutamate. Drugs that primarily influence the way the brain processes the chemical serotonin. Using preferred language can help accurately report on substance use and addiction. They are also relapsing conditions, in which periods of abstinence (not using substances) can be followed by a return to use.
Dissociative drugs, including ketamine and PCP, block the action of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. For more information about NIDA and its programs, visit NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. “We are in the middle of a rapidly evolving cultural, media, and legal landscape when it comes to psychedelics, and we need data to help shape informed and appropriate public health strategies,” said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
The risk of mental health problems such as psychosis or suicidality in supervised clinical settings among people who participate in research on psilocybin is low. Learn more about psychedelic and dissociative drugs and their legal status in the United States from the DEA. Though most of these substances remain federally controlled, some states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized possession of psilocybin and some similar drugs (meaning there are no criminal penalties for possessing smaller amounts of the substance for personal use) or deprioritized enforcement of laws against the substances. Researchers are also interested in the psychedelic and dissociative properties of other drugs. While some debate remains on how to describe these drugs and how specific drugs are classified, researchers generally classify them according to how they work in the brain. Some organizations are using harm reduction practices to help avoid drug overdose deaths related to possible adulteration of certain psychedelic and dissociative drugs, particularly those taken in pill, powder, or liquid form.15
Limited research suggests that use of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and LSD, does not typically lead to addiction.1,35 Researchers think that one reason may be because people commonly experience unpleasant side effects when taking these substances, including headaches and nausea, which reduces their desire to take them again.66 While short-term positive and negative mood changes are common with psychedelic and dissociative drugs, more research is needed to better understand the long-term effects these substances may have on mental health. NIDA conducts and supports research to better understand how often and to what extent people experience tolerance, withdrawal, and other substance use disorder symptoms related to the use of psychedelic and dissociative drugs. Most people who report using psychedelic and dissociative drugs do so outside of medical or research settings.1,28 While further research is also needed to better understand the health and safety impacts of typical use of these drugs, some serious adverse effects and safety issues have been identified.14,27 People who take psychedelic drugs like psilocybin may also experience short-term side effects such as raised blood pressure and heart rate, agitation, confusion, vomiting, or nausea, which may be severe and require medical attention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)—a reference text professionals use to diagnose substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders—includes diagnoses of phencyclidine (PCP) use disorder and “other hallucinogen use disorder”64,65 but does not include substance use disorder diagnoses related to other specific psychedelic and dissociative drugs.
Psilocybin mushrooms fall under a broader drug category known as psychedelic and dissociative drugs, which can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions. Preliminary research indicates that psilocybin may be helpful in treating substance use disorders, including tobacco use disorder.19,20 NIDA is funding a large, multi-site study on the effectiveness of psilocybin versus a nicotine patch, in combination with therapy, to help people stop smoking. For more information, see “What is the relationship between psychedelic and dissociative drugs and mental illness?
In an emergency? Need treatment?
Together, the authors note that these factors may influence nonmedical or recreational use of psilocybin mushrooms in the U.S. Importantly, research on psychedelics as a medical treatment is done within a therapeutic structure, which includes a preparatory session with a clinician, a controlled environment and supervision while experiencing the effects of psilocybin, and follow-up sessions. These include studies on its effectiveness and safety as a treatment for substance use disorders and to help people quit smoking. NIDA is conducting and supporting preclinical (laboratory) research into psilocybin’s effects on the brain and body, and whether there are similar substances that may have the same benefits without side-effects such as hallucinations. There is evidence that psilocybin may be an effective treatment for depression and anxiety disorders.21,22 To support further research, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for a few formulations of psilocybin being studied for safety and efficacy as a medical treatment for depression.