2026-05-20 13:02:18
A single dose of magic mushrooms could help cocaine users quit the drug and avoid relapse.
Scientists say psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, may help cocaine addicts stay drug-free after just one guided therapy session.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, tracked 40 cocaine users in the US over six months and found those given psilocybin alongside psychotherapy were more likely to avoid cocaine than those handed a placebo.
Cocaine use has surged worldwide in recent years, with global consumption reaching record levels in 2023.
In the UK, it remains the second most commonly used illegal drug after cannabis.
Despite the scale of the problem, there are currently no approved medications to treat cocaine addiction, leaving users largely reliant on cognitive behavioural therapy.
Researchers from the University of Alabama recruited participants aged over 25 who had used cocaine on at least four occasions in the previous month and wanted to quit.
Volunteers completed therapy sessions and a week free from cocaine before taking part in an all-day treatment session, where they received either psilocybin or a placebo antihistamine capsule.
Five further therapy sessions followed, with progress checked after 90 and 180 days.
The results showed that those treated with psilocybin recorded more cocaine-free days and were significantly less likely to relapse.
Dr Peter Hendricks, study lead, said: “These findings are a potentially important advancement in the treatment of cocaine use disorder, a condition for which there are no approved pharmacotherapies and limited psychosocial interventions.”
Unlike cocaine, which stimulates reward pathways linked to impulsive behaviour, psilocybin works by temporarily altering consciousness.
Scientists believe the psychedelic experience may encourage shifts in perspective that help users rethink addictive behaviours.
Experts welcomed the findings but warned against overstating the results.
Professor Erin Bonar said treatments must address both addiction and depression, a common feature of cocaine withdrawal, which this study could not confirm.
She added that a “careful balance” is needed to avoid increasing risky psychedelic use among vulnerable people seeking help.
Researchers say larger trials are now needed before psilocybin could become a mainstream addiction treatment.
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