JAMA Psychiatry
February 1, 2025
Daniel T. Myran, Michael Pugliese, Jennifer Xiao et al.
23 citations
People who had an emergency department visit involving hallucinogen use were more likely to be diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder within three years compared with the general population (3.99% vs 0.15%). After accounting for other substance use and mental health conditions, the risk remained elevated: they were about 3.5 times as likely as the general population, 4.7 times as likely as those with an alcohol-related ED visit, and 1.5 times as likely as those with a cannabis-related ED visit. The rate of hallucinogen-related ED visits rose 86% between 2013 and 2021.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
November 7, 2025
Mikkel Højlund, Helin Y. Kafali, Begüm Kırmızı et al.
12 citations
A living systematic review with meta-analysis examined the efficacy, safety, and all-cause discontinuation of serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA for treating mental disorders. The review found that these substances show promise in reducing symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with some evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. However, the authors note that the overall quality of evidence is limited by small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and methodological concerns. Safety profiles varied, with most adverse events being mild to moderate, though serious adverse events were reported in some studies. The review emphasizes the need for larger, more rigorous trials to confirm these findings.
CMAJ
March 2, 2025
Daniel T. Myran, Jennifer Xiao, Nicholas Fabiano et al.
8 citations
People who had an emergency department visit or hospital admission involving hallucinogen use in Ontario, Canada, between 2006 and 2022 had a 2.6-fold higher risk of death from any cause within five years compared with the general population. Among 7953 individuals with such acute care, 6.1% died within five years versus 0.6% in the matched general population. Elevated risks were also seen for death from unintentional drug poisoning, suicide, respiratory disease, and cancer. These associations persisted even after excluding people with other mental or substance use disorders.
JAMA Network Open
April 1, 2025
Jenna Matsukubo, Sarah Dickson, Jennifer Xiao et al.
7 citations
As of May 2024, 57 psilocybin dispensaries operated in Canada, located in 15 of 42 major cities (35.7%) and concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia. Most stores (61.4%) were part of a chain, 91.2% had an online presence, and all sold dried mushrooms, with many also offering microdosing capsules, chocolates, and gummies. 65.2% sold products mimicking popular food brands. Among stores with websites, 86.4% claimed mental health benefits such as alleviating anxiety, yet warnings about driving, pregnancy, or history of psychosis were rare (9.1%, 13.6%, and 31.8% respectively). The findings suggest a need for greater regulatory measures to protect the public.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
September 1, 2025
Stanley Wong, Gray Meckling, Nicholas Fabiano et al.
6 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials involving 593 adults with psychiatric diagnoses found that psilocybin therapy led to a small but significant decrease in suicidal ideation compared to control conditions. No studies reported suicide attempts or deaths. The analysis showed low heterogeneity and no publication bias, though two studies had a high risk of bias. Current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, insufficient follow-up data, and inadequate assessment of blinding.
Canadian Journal of Public Health
March 19, 2026
Jenna Matsukubo, Erik Loewen Friesen, Rachael MacDonald-Spracklin et al.
1 citation
Between 2024 and 2025, the number of physical psilocybin retail stores in Canada increased from 57 to 75, a 33% rise in stores per 100,000 people (0.18 to 0.24). The proportion of Canadians living within a 10-minute walk of a store rose from 1.4% to 1.7%. However, 30 of the original 57 stores closed, while 48 new ones opened, indicating rapid turnover. Two large chains operated 44% of all stores in 2025, and 97% were located in Ontario and British Columbia. In Toronto and Vancouver, 9.5% and 29.0% of residents, respectively, lived within a 10-minute walk of a store. Most stores sold dried mushrooms, microdose capsules, and infused edibles online, with 69% offering products mimicking commercial snack brands.
PLoS Medicine
December 1, 2025
Daniel T. Myran, Rachael MacDonald-Spracklin, Michael Pugliese et al.
Among 9.3 million people in Ontario, those who had an emergency department visit or hospitalization involving hallucinogens faced a 6-fold higher risk of a first episode of mania and a nearly 4-fold higher risk of a new bipolar disorder diagnosis over three years, compared to similar individuals without such acute care. The absolute risk was low: 1.43% of those with hallucinogen-related acute care developed mania versus 0.06% in the general population. The findings apply only to people who required acute care for hallucinogen use, not to most users, and suggest caution for individuals at risk of bipolar disorder.