Inaugural year of regulated psilocybin services in Oregon: safety, motivations, and utilization
Feliciano Yu, Joe Tafur, Francisco Moreno, Stephen Dahmer
Frontiers in Psychiatry May 13, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1777387 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5,935 |
| Population | Clients in the Oregon Psilocybin Services program in 2025 |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Duration | January 1-December 31, 2025 |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Full-year data show stabilized utilization by a predominantly midlife adult population, with rare adverse events but persistent racial disparities and high service tourism. |
Abstract
Importance: The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) program is the first statewide, regulated framework for legal psilocybin in the U.S. Analyzing inaugural-year utilization and safety is essential for informing policy and equity monitoring.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of statewide aggregate data from the OPS Public Dashboard (January 1-December 31, 2025). Outcomes included service volume, client demographics, motivations, and acute adverse events.
Results: In 2025, 5,935 clients participated in 5,375 sessions. Volume peaked in Q2 (n=1,758) before stabilizing in Q4 (n=1,358). Service tourism was significant, with 32.6% of participants residing outside Oregon. The largest segment was aged 35-49 (~40%); women (57.4%) and LGBTQ+ individuals (27.2%) represented substantial portions of the annual cohort. Racial diversity was limited, with White participants representing 84.1%-91.5% quarterly, while Hispanic/Latino (7.1%) and African American (2.1%) participation lagged. Adverse events were rare, with annual behavioral and medical rates of 2.42 and 2.79 per 1,000 sessions, respectively.
Discussion: Full-year data indicate stabilized utilization by a predominantly midlife adult population. While the program successfully reaches sexual and gender minorities, racial disparities persist. High service tourism suggests significant socioeconomic barriers. These findings underscore the program's dual role as a wellness modality and a functional alternative for addressing mental health distress.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- The New Mexico Medical Psilocybin Act and current trends in the United States psychedelic policy Psychedelics October 1, 2026
- Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Psychiatry: A Narrative Clinical Review of Mechanisms, Therapeutic Applications, and Emerging Evidence (2025–2026) Journal of Clinical Medicine August 12, 2026
- Psilocybin and Mental Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸SAIMSARA SAIMSARA Journal June 15, 2026
- Balancing safety and access in Oregon’s psilocybin services International Journal of Drug Policy June 13, 2026
- Who Is Reached by Supervised Psilocybin Services? Oregon Services Versus National Psilocybin Use
and 1 more in the library
Cites 17
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- Psychedelic Drug Legislative Reform and Legalization in the US JAMA Psychiatry December 7, 2022
- Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders February 1, 2023
and 12 more in the library