Psilocybin Exposures Reported to U.S. Poison Centers: National Trends Over a Decade.
Rita Farah, Abigail F Kerns, Austin C Murray, Christopher P Holstege
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.01.027 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFrom 2013 to 2022, US poison centers reported 4,055 psilocybin-related exposures among 13–25-year-olds, with 65.8% involving only psilocybin. Most single-substance cases received medical attention: 75.3% of adolescents and 72.1% of young adults. Cases remained stable from 2013 to 2018, then began rising in 2019. By 2022, adolescent cases more than tripled and young adult cases more than doubled compared to 2018. The authors call for continued national surveillance to monitor the impact of increasing psilocybin availability on youth.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4,055 |
| Population | Adolescents and young adults aged 13–25 years in the United States |
| Duration | 10-year study period, January 1, 2013-December 31, 2022 |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Adolescents Npds Young adults Psilocybin poisoning Youth substance use |
| Citations | 18 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults reported to US poison centers remained stable from 2013 to 2018, then increased sharply through 2022, with cases more than tripling among adolescents and more than doubling among young adults compared to 2018. |
Abstract
We describe trends in psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults as reported to US poison centers over the past decade. We queried the National Poison Data System for cases involving psilocybin during January 1, 2013-December 31, 2022. Persons aged 13-25 years were included. We examined exposures to psilocybin by demographics, clinical effects, level of care, and medical outcome. During the 10-year study period, 4,055 psilocybin-involved exposures were reported among adolescents and young adults, 2,667 (65.8%) being single substance exposures. Most single substance cases received medical attention (adolescents: 75.3% [n = 1,176], young adults: 72.1% [n = 797]). We did not find significant change in the number of cases during 2013-2018. Cases started increasing in 2019. In 2022, cases more than tripled among adolescents and more than doubled among young adults, compared to 2018 (p < .0001). Continued national surveillance is critical to determine the impact of psilocybin exposures on youth as it becomes increasingly available.