Are Magic Mushrooms the Magic to Healing?
Abstract (300 words maximum)
“Magic mushrooms” produce a naturally occurring psychedelic compound called psilocybin. Public opinion surrounding psilocybin mushrooms generally holds that they are primarily used for recreational purposes, which may have contributed to their widespread prohibition in the United States. However, prior studies have demonstrated the potential efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, migraines, and end-of-life psychological distress. Drawing on published research as well as information found in this observational data, the need for further advocacy of “magic mushrooms” as a legitimate medicine is clearly identified. Using a data set from DRYAD, an open-source data repository, psilocybin use among 7,139 U.S. adults in 2021 was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of psilocybin usage. Multiple ANOVA and two mean t-tests were used to assess the relationships between an individual’s awareness of psilocybin benefits and their psilocybin usage, versus their anxiety, depression, and Veterans RAND Mental Health Composite scores. Differences of proportions were used to assess the relationships between an individual using psilocybin versus having migraines, having health insurance, using urgent care services, and using alternative healthcare providers. Individuals most likely to use psilocybin mushrooms were male, between the ages of 20 to 30 or 40 to 60, experiencing migraines, aware of psilocybin benefits, and had moderate to severe anxiety. Moderate to severe anxiety, depression, and poor overall mental health were associated with both awareness of psilocybin benefits and psilocybin usage. Regarding physical ailments, individuals with migraines were more likely to be aware of psilocybin’s benefits and were more likely to use psilocybin. People who use psilocybin mushrooms were less likely to have health insurance but were more likely to utilize urgent care services and alternative health resources. Through these statistical analyses, a compelling case is presented to support the usage of psilocybin mushrooms as a legitimate medicine.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CCSE – Data Science and Analytics
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Susan Mathews Hardy
Are Magic Mushrooms the Magic to Healing?
“Magic mushrooms” produce a naturally occurring psychedelic compound called psilocybin. Public opinion surrounding psilocybin mushrooms generally holds that they are primarily used for recreational purposes, which may have contributed to their widespread prohibition in the United States. However, prior studies have demonstrated the potential efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, migraines, and end-of-life psychological distress. Drawing on published research as well as information found in this observational data, the need for further advocacy of “magic mushrooms” as a legitimate medicine is clearly identified. Using a data set from DRYAD, an open-source data repository, psilocybin use among 7,139 U.S. adults in 2021 was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of psilocybin usage. Multiple ANOVA and two mean t-tests were used to assess the relationships between an individual’s awareness of psilocybin benefits and their psilocybin usage, versus their anxiety, depression, and Veterans RAND Mental Health Composite scores. Differences of proportions were used to assess the relationships between an individual using psilocybin versus having migraines, having health insurance, using urgent care services, and using alternative healthcare providers. Individuals most likely to use psilocybin mushrooms were male, between the ages of 20 to 30 or 40 to 60, experiencing migraines, aware of psilocybin benefits, and had moderate to severe anxiety. Moderate to severe anxiety, depression, and poor overall mental health were associated with both awareness of psilocybin benefits and psilocybin usage. Regarding physical ailments, individuals with migraines were more likely to be aware of psilocybin’s benefits and were more likely to use psilocybin. People who use psilocybin mushrooms were less likely to have health insurance but were more likely to utilize urgent care services and alternative health resources. Through these statistical analyses, a compelling case is presented to support the usage of psilocybin mushrooms as a legitimate medicine.