Past-Year Psilocybin and Alcohol Co-Use: Associations With Mental Health Symptoms
Journal of Drug Issues July 1, 2026 Haley M Hummel, Alexia N Obrochta, David C. R. Kerr et al.
People who used both psilocybin and alcohol in the past year reported fewer depressive symptoms compared to those who used alcohol without psilocybin, based on a nationally representative U.S. survey. The analysis adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, survey period, and other substance use. When cannabis and other psychedelic use were not accounted for, psilocybin use was also linked to lower anxiety symptoms. Because the study was observational and relied on self-reports, it cannot show cause and effect. The findings suggest potential mental health benefits of psilocybin when used alongside alcohol, but experimental and long-term studies are needed to confirm.