mushroom New Study Says Magic Mushrooms Can Help You Quit Smoking

As cures go, this one’s a trip. A new study from Johns Hopkins University found that a single dose of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, was dramatically more effective at helping smokers quit than nicotine patches. After six months, people who took psilocybin had more than six times the odds of staying off cigarettes compared to those who used nicotine replacement.

Both groups also received 13 weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy; out of 82 participants, 17 in the psilocybin group had stayed smoke-free at the half-year mark, compared to just four in the nicotine group. Experts called the results exciting, noting there hasn’t been a new smoking cessation medication in about 20 years. Researchers believe psilocybin doesn’t just replace nicotine cravings but helps shift how people think about themselves, shaking up the mental patterns that keep addiction going. A larger follow-up trial is already underway.

Source: OPB