Psychedelic Mushrooms in the USA: Knowledge, Patterns of Use, and Association With Health Outcomes
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 3, 2022 Richard Matzopoulos, Robert Morlock, Amy Morlock et al. 43 citations
A national survey of American adults from November 2020 to March 2021 found that psychedelic mushroom use is common, with 63.6% of users citing general mental health and well-being as a reason. Users reported higher depression and anxiety scores on standard measures. Factors predicting use included being male and having a higher comorbidity burden, while having health insurance, older age, and living outside the western US reduced the likelihood. The findings indicate that many Americans are self-medicating with psychedelic mushrooms, and the link between use and poor mental health warrants further policy-relevant research.