Psilocybin Mushrooms and Public Health in Brazil: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis of Adverse Events and Their Implications for Regulatory Discussions.
Marcel Nogueira, Solimary García-Hernández, Gleicy Sotéro Roberto, Leonardo Zanella Marques
International journal of medicinal mushrooms 2025 DOI: 10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.2024057053 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 112,451 |
| Population | Individuals seeking medical attention for drug abuse-related events in Brazil from 2007 to 2022 |
| Duration | 2007 to 2022 |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psilocybin mushrooms Medical research Drug safety Psychedelics Public health |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin mushrooms were associated with very few adverse events and no deaths, indicating a low public health risk compared to other drugs. |
Abstract
Current drug policy classifies psilocybin, a compound found in psychoactive mushrooms, as having high abuse potential while overlooking its therapeutic properties. We evaluated the risk of psilocybin mushrooms to Brazilian public health compared to other toxic agents and assessed the need for regulatory discussions. This retrospective cross-sectional study followed STROBE guidelines, using data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) on adverse events reported from 2007 to 2022. Participants were categorized into a general drug abuse group, which was further divided into psilocybin and unknown mushroom subgroups. Clinical outcomes included non-hospitalization, hospitalization, and death, with associations analyzed via the Chi-square test. Out of 112,451 individuals seeking medical attention for drug abuse-related events, men predominated (n = 79,514; 70.7%), with alcohol being the primary agent (n = 71,824; 49.2%). The psilocybin mushroom group included 13 participants, and the unknown mushroom group included 51. Hospitalization rates were 19.5% (n = 21,923) for drug abuse, 46.2% (n = 6) for psilocybin mushrooms (0.02% of all hospitalizations) (99% CI: 10.6%-81.6%), and 23.5% (n = 12) for unknown mushrooms (99% CI: 8.3%-38.7%). Mortality was 1.8% (n = 2035) for drug abuse group, with no fatal events in the psilocybin or unknown mushroom groups. Deaths were mainly linked to cocaine (33.3%). These findings suggest a low risk for psilocybin mushrooms, though underreporting may be a factor. This study underscores the need for evidence-based regulatory discussions to ensure safe access to psilocybin for clinical and ceremonial use.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Individuals who had consumed psilocybin mushrooms and experienced a psychologically... | 2016 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,993 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use Individuals with prior alcohol use disorder who reported cessation or reduction in... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 343 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 33
- 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
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act Neuropharmacology June 5, 2018
- Predicting Reactions to Psychedelic Drugs: A Systematic Review of States and Traits Related to Acute Drug Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 5, 2021
- Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression: Impact on patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, function, and quality of life Journal of Affective Disorders February 3, 2023
and 28 more in the library