More Americans Calling Poison Control As ‘magic Mushroom’ Use Increases: Study

[Kalé Carey]

MORE AMERICANS ARE USING PSILOCYBIN, THE HALLUCINOGEN FOUND IN PSYCHEDELIC OR “MAGIC” MUSHROOMS, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY.

WHILE THE COMPOUND IS A POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR P-T-S-D, DEPRESSION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS… THE RESEARCHERS BEHIND THE STUDY SAY THEY FOUND A WORRISOME LINK BETWEEN INCREASED PSILOCYBIN USE – AND CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS NATIONWIDE. 

RESEARCHERS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN POISON AND DRUG SAFETY SAY SINCE 2019 – PSILOCYBIN USE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS. 

BETWEEN 2022 AND 2023, 44% MORE YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 18-29) SAID THEY’D USED THE PSYCHEDELIC…

WHILE THERE WAS A 188% INCREASE IN USE AMONG THOSE 30 AND OLDER. 

ABOUT 31 MILLION AMERICANS SAID THEY’D AT LEAST TRIED PSILOCYBIN, UP FROM 25 MILLION IN 2019.

THE STUDY’S AUTHORS ALSO SAY 2024’S NUMBERS INDICATE A CONTINUED RISE. 

THE STUDY FOUND PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR CHRONIC PAIN WERE THE MOST LIKELY TO USE PSILOCYBIN.

IT ALSO FOUND MORE ADULTS USED THE HALLUCINOGEN IN 2023 THAN DRUGS LIKE COCAINE, LSD, METHAMPHETAMINE, OR ILLEGAL OPIOIDS.

AN INCREASE IN USE OF ANY KIND OF DRUG TYPICALLY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH AN INCREASE IN CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS RELATED TO THEM.

THE STUDY’S AUTHORS FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE FOR PSILOCYBIN, AS WELL.

THEY SAY BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023, CALLS RELATED TO THE HALLUCINOGENIC COMPOUND MORE THAN QUADRUPLED AMONG ADULTS.

DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD THEY WENT UP MORE THAN 300% AMONG TEENS…

AND MORE THAN 700% IN CHILDREN. 

WHILE RESEARCHERS CAN’T SAY FOR SURE WHAT’S BEHIND THE INCREASE IN PSILOCYBIN USE – THEY DO SAY A SHIFTING PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD THE DRUG LIKELY PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE.

WHILE PSILOCYBIN USE IS NOT LEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER FEDERAL LAW, SEVERAL AREAS HAVE DECRIMINALIZED ITS USE.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN LEGALIZED IN OREGON AND COLORADO AS A MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN SUPERVISED SETTINGS.

MEANWHILE, COLORADO IS THE ONLY STATE TO LEGALIZE PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS FOR RECREATIONAL USE FOR ADULTS 21 AND OLDER TO GROW, USE, AND SHARE THEM.

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