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Psychedelic Mushrooms in the USA: Knowledge, Patterns of Use, and Association With Health Outcomes

Summary

This study surveyed over 250 million representative American adults about their use of psychedelic mushrooms. Researchers found that about 1.7% of US adults used psychedelic mushrooms in the past year, primarily for general mental health and well-being. Interestingly, those who used them reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, suggesting people with mental health challenges may be self-treating with mushrooms. The findings highlight the need for evidence-based guidelines as more Americans explore psychedelics for health purposes.

Background

Popular media coverage and research into psychedelics are transforming public perception of these substances. Growing decriminalization initiatives and FDA breakthrough therapy designations for psychedelic-assisted treatments have increased societal interest. However, little is known about psychedelic mushroom knowledge and usage patterns among American adults.

Objective

To examine psychedelic mushroom use patterns and associations with health status, quality of life, and mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of US adults. The study also assessed whether COVID-19 pandemic and election-related stress influenced usage patterns.

Results

Past-year psychedelic use was 7.1% (17.9 million adults), with 49.2% using psychedelic mushrooms exclusively. PM users were more likely male, younger, Hispanic/Latino, and residing in western US. PM users reported higher depression and anxiety scores, more comorbidities, and lower quality of life compared to non-users, though 63.6% cited general mental health and well-being as primary reason for use.

Conclusion

Significant numbers of Americans self-medicate with psychedelic mushrooms for mental health and wellness. Despite positive reputation of lifetime PM use, associations with beneficial health outcomes remain unclear. Evidence-based guidelines are needed to optimize therapeutic use as growing media coverage increases public interest in psychedelic health benefits.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Psychiatry,
  • Study Type:Cross-sectional Survey,
  • Source: PMID: 35046855, PMCID: PMC8761614, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.780696
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