Nationally-funded study finds that magic mushroom busts tripled in five years
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A federal study found that psilocybin seizures have more than tripled in recent years, pointing to a significant increase in the accessibility of magic mushrooms.
The results of the study funded by the National Institutes of Health were released to the public on Tuesday morning. According to the data published in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal, law enforcement officers across the U.S. seized psilocybin mushrooms 1,396 times in 2022 — compared to just 402 seizures in 2017.
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Researchers revealed that the Midwest was the most popular area for shroom busts, with 36% of seizures occurring in the region over five years. The West Coast followed closely after with 33.5%.
Additionally, the West was the leading region for overall weight in psilocybin seizures. NIH reported that 4,109 pounds of the drug, or 42.6% of all seizures, were recovered in the region.
The study named 2021 as the peak year for total weight in shroom busts. That same year, Oregon’s Measure 109 — a first-in-the-nation move to legalize psilocybin services — went into effect. The state had also decriminalized possession of small amounts of all controlled substances.
Since then, the Oregon Health Authority has issued psilocybin service center licenses to a number of organizations. These organizations, including Portland’s soon-to-open InnerTrek, plan to offer safe spaces to residents who use magic mushrooms as an alternative for treating disorders such as depression and addiction.
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While NIH notes that magic mushrooms are “by no means the most dangerous drug,” researchers say they could lead to adverse effects like distorted thinking, increased fear and anxiety.
“We are in the middle of a rapidly evolving cultural, media, and legal landscape when it comes to psychedelics, and we need data to help shape informed and appropriate public health strategies,” National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow said. “Moving forward, we must continue to track data on the availability of psychedelics, patterns in use, and associated health effects to guide efforts in promoting accurate education and reducing potential harms among people who do plan to use psychedelic drugs.”
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