Reports that psilocybin can help some mental health conditions has led to increase in recreational use, which carries risks
Magic mushrooms are rapidly growing in popularity, sparking a “psychedelic renaissance” as people become more interested in their mental health benefits. But experts have warned that using them recreationally risks doing more harm than good.
Trials exploring psilocybin as a groundbreaking treatment for mental health conditions has spawned a proliferation of psychedelic companies and retreats in countries where they are legal, while more people are buying the drug, which is class A in the UK, on the hidden market.
The latest Office for National Statistics data shows that psilocybin was the only illegal drug that grew in popularity in 2024, increasing by 37.5% to reach 1.1% of 16- to 59-year-olds, representing about 300,000 people and making the drug nearly as popular as ecstasy.
