Assessing Metro Vancouver Residents’ Knowledge and Opinions of Psilocybin
Payman Baharmand, Amardeep Kambo
BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal October 12, 2023 DOI: 10.47339/ephj.2023.229 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction Anxiety Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Obsessive compulsive Clinical psychology |
| Key findings | Psilocybin combined with psychological therapy may have promising therapeutic applications for treating mental illnesses, but more research is needed and current Canadian data are insufficient. |
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in different species of fungi. Psilocybin has gained extensive social popularity and political attention in the United States. Research has shown that psilocybin and psychological therapy may have promising therapeutic applications for safer and more effective treatment of mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, addiction, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psilocybin remains an illegal substance in Canada, and the current data on awareness, opinions, and use of psilocybin among Canadian adults are subpar. Further research on the health effects and clinical use of psilocybin is needed before any conclusions can be made. Addressing the current lack of reliable information about psilocybin among Canadians would be a sensible start.