M agic mushrooms are rapidly growing in popularity, sparking a “psychedelic renaissance” as people become more interested in their mental health b

Experts warn of mental health risks after rise in magic mushroom use

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2024-12-25 21:30:07

M agic mushrooms are rapidly growing in popularity, sparking a “psychedelic renaissance” as people become more interested in their mental health benefits. But experts have warned that using them recreationally risks doing more harm than good. Trials exploring psilocybin as a groundbreaking treatment for mental health conditions has spawned a proliferation of psychedelic companies and retreats in countries where they are legal, while more people are buying the drug, which is class A in the UK, on the hidden market.

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows that psilocybin was the only illegal drug that grew in popularity in 2024, increasing by 37.5% to reach 1.1% of 16- to 59-year-olds, representing about 300,000 people and making the drug nearly as popular as ecstasy.

Experts said while clinical trials were showing promising results, emerging evidence suggests that people who take psilocybin outside these environments can experience harm, including anxiety, trauma, insomnia, continued visual distortion known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), and feelings of depersonalisation.