Oregon psilocybin program linked to improved mental health in early study

Participants in Oregon’s regulated psilocybin program reported substantial mental health improvements during the three months after a supervised session, according to the first large, multisite study of the state’s real-world system. Among 346 adults at 24 licensed centers, the share reporting moderate-to-severe depression fell from 42.2% before the session to 16.5% after three months. Moderate-to-severe anxiety declined from 45.1% to 13.2%, while moderate-to-severe PTSD symptoms dropped from 48% to 16.8%.

Researchers also found higher well-being, life satisfaction and strong satisfaction with the services. More than half of participants placed the experience among the 10 most meaningful of their lives. Oregon’s nonmedical model, launched in 2023 after voter approval, allows adults aged 21 and older to use mushroom-derived psilocybin at licensed centers under a trained facilitator’s supervision, without a prescription or referral.

The safety findings were encouraging but not risk-free. Four participants, or 1.2%, had serious behavioral reactions requiring medical attention. All four were new to psychedelics, had pre-existing mental health symptoms and received moderate-to-high doses, although the small number prevents firm conclusions about risk factors. The study also had no control group, enrolled self-selected clients and included a largely white, affluent sample. It therefore cannot prove psilocybin caused the improvements or show that the results apply to everyone. Longer and broader follow-up is planned.