A single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, appears significantly more effective than nicotine patches at helping people quit smoking, according to a new randomized trial involving 82 adult smokers who were “psychiatrically healthy.” Researchers compared the efficacy of nicotine patches given for eight-to-10 weeks with a single high dose of psilocybin, with both treatments combined with 13 weeks of talk therapy.
Over 40% of those in the psilocybin group weren’t smoking after six months, compared to only 10% of the nicotine patch group. At the six-month mark, those receiving psilocybin were three times more likely to have avoided cigarettes in the previous week and six times more likely to stay off nicotine long term. In 2022, half of American smokers attempted to quit, with a 1 in 10 success rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How Psilocybin Works
Existing treatments such as medications, antidepressants, nicotine replacement therapy, and counseling typically fail after six months. Researchers think psilocybin was effective because it influenced psychological systems, changed self-perception, and influenced behaviors rather than targeting withdrawal or altering the way nicotine acts in the body. Biologically, psychedelics temporarily alter brain communication patterns and may promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections.
Matthew Johnson, a professor of behavioral pharmacology at Johns Hopkins University and lead researcher, explained that “during the trip itself, the brain is communicating with itself in a radically different way.” While some participants were fascinated by the effects, most were desperate to quit smoking. Johnson emphasized that while psilocybin is not physically addictive, it can be abused and requires careful supervision. Participants were monitored throughout the five-to-six-hour experience with medical staff on hand. No serious adverse events were reported, though some experienced temporary spikes in blood pressure or intense anxiety.
Future Prospects
The findings suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy warrants larger, more diverse trials. Several companies are pursuing FDA approval for psilocybin-based treatments. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced support for expanding psychedelic access for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and said the Trump administration wants such treatments available in clinical settings.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/03/17/psychedelics-quit-smoking/