Law enforcement data indicates a significant increase in seizures of psilocybin mushrooms across nearly every major region in the country.
Surge in Psilocybin Availability: New Study Reveals Increased Seizures
A new study based on law enforcement data suggests that the availability of illicit psilocybin mushrooms in the U.S. has risen significantly in recent years. This increase in seizures indicates that these mushrooms are becoming easier to find on the streets.
Researchers at New York University (NYU) identified a growing trend in access to psilocybin mushrooms, particularly as awareness of their potential medical benefits expands. Published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study analyzed 4,526 seizure reports from 2017 to 2022, categorizing both the number of confiscations and the weight of seized mushrooms by state. The findings reveal that law enforcement seizures skyrocketed from 402 in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022, with the total weight of confiscated psilocybin increasing by 2,749%—from 226 kilograms (498 pounds) in 2017 to 844 kilograms (1,860 pounds) in 2022.
These seizures are a key metric used by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to gauge drug availability. However, the researchers caution that the data doesn’t fully represent the prevalence of psilocybin in the U.S., as many users evade detection.
Seizures of psilocybin mushrooms have risen across nearly all regions analyzed, with significant increases noted in the Northeast, West, South, and Midwest. The West Coast, in particular, has seen a notable rise in popularity.
“We found that both the number of shroom seizures and the total weight of mushrooms seized increased annually through 2022, with the greatest weight coming from the West,” said Joseph J. Palamar, a co-author of the study and associate professor at NYU’s Langone Health.
Palamar emphasized that while law enforcement data provides insights into the prevalence of psilocybin, it doesn’t capture the complete picture. For example, researchers could not determine whether the seized mushrooms were wet or dry, as police typically do not differentiate between the two.
“We don’t treat drug seizures as an indicator of use but rather as a marker of availability,” said Joseph Palamar. “This might seem counterintuitive since seizures remove drugs from the market, but we believe they only represent a small sample of what’s actually available. The increase in psilocybin seizures suggests greater availability, even though seizures are far from a perfect indicator.”
Self-reported data on copyright use is limited, but earlier studies indicate that psilocybin is the most widely consumed plant-based copyright in the U.S., excluding cannabis, which some view as a mild copyright.
Palamar noted that the prevalence of psilocybin use likely fluctuates over time, with peaks occurring during the 1960s and beyond. Today, research is increasingly focused on the potential medical benefits of psilocybin rather than its risks, signaling a shift in the perception of copyright mushrooms.
Starting in 2019 with Denver, several cities and the District of Columbia have decriminalized psilocybin. Oregon voters decriminalized it in 2020, followed by the entire state of Colorado two years later.
Ketamine has also gained popularity in therapeutic settings, Palamar explained. After being classified as a Schedule III drug in 1999, a nasal spray form was approved by the FDA in 2019, leading to widespread availability in clinics across many states.
“All drug trends seem to come in waves, and it’s unclear whether the recent uptick in psilocybin use is driven by positive media coverage of its research, but I strongly believe it plays a role,” he said. “I expect a similar trend with ketamine.”
The researchers noted that the increasing use of hallucinogens may be linked to heightened awareness of their therapeutic benefits, particularly due to recent clinical trials exploring psilocybin's efficacy for various psychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
However, the study also pointed out that recreational users often take excessive amounts of psilocybin, leading to dysphoria. Generally, 3.5 grams is considered a large dose, while 5 grams or more is regarded as a “heroic” dose. Powerful and confusing effects can arise even with smaller amounts. Yet, researchers like Matthew W. Johnson, a professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins, argue that higher doses may be necessary for treating specific conditions.