Precipitous Increases in Psilocybin Exposure in Youths
AAP Grand Rounds August 1, 2024
Psilocybin exposures reported to U.S. poison centers more than tripled among adolescents and more than doubled among young adults from 2018 to 2022, after years of stable numbers. Of 4,055 total exposures, 58.5% occurred in adolescents (13–19 years), mostly males. Exposures were intentional in about 80% of cases. Common effects included hallucinations or delusions (36.6%), agitation (27.6%), and tachycardia (20.2%). Most cases led to health care visits, and two adolescent deaths occurred from multi-substance exposures involving fentanyl or hallucinogenic amphetamine. The authors conclude that adolescent psilocybin exposure increased significantly from 2018 to 2022.