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Psilocybin Exposures Reported to U.S. Poison Centers: National Trends Over a Decade.

Rita Farah, Abigail F Kerns, Austin C Murray, Christopher P Holstege

Journal of Adolescent Health May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.01.027 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 4,055
Population Adolescents and young adults aged 13–25 years in the United States
Duration 10-year study period, January 1, 2013-December 31, 2022
Topics Psilocybin
Keywords Adolescents Npds Young adults Psilocybin poisoning Youth substance use Drug surveillance data Psychedelic trends Adolescent health risks
Citations 18
Key findings Psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults reported to US poison centers remained stable from 2013 to 2018, then increased sharply through 2022, with cases more than tripling among adolescents and more than doubling among young adults compared to 2018.

Abstract

We describe trends in psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults as reported to US poison centers over the past decade. We queried the National Poison Data System for cases involving psilocybin during January 1, 2013-December 31, 2022. Persons aged 13-25 years were included. We examined exposures to psilocybin by demographics, clinical effects, level of care, and medical outcome. During the 10-year study period, 4,055 psilocybin-involved exposures were reported among adolescents and young adults, 2,667 (65.8%) being single substance exposures. Most single substance cases received medical attention (adolescents: 75.3% [n = 1,176], young adults: 72.1% [n = 797]). We did not find significant change in the number of cases during 2013-2018. Cases started increasing in 2019. In 2022, cases more than tripled among adolescents and more than doubled among young adults, compared to 2018 (p < .0001). Continued national surveillance is critical to determine the impact of psilocybin exposures on youth as it becomes increasingly available.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression 2017 Observational cohort n = 19
Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers 2019 Observational cohort n = 8
Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans 2017 Observational study
Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) 2015 Observational cohort n = 190,000
Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers 2012 Observational cohort n = 409

Citations in the library

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