Introduction
Psilocybin, the prodrug found in over 200 species of mushrooms, is undergoing one of the most remarkable rehabilitations in the history of medicine. After being criminalized in the late 1960s and spending decades as a Schedule I substance, psilocybin is now the subject of rigorous clinical trials at major research universities worldwide. The results have been striking: single or few doses of psilocybin, combined with psychological support, have produced rapid and durable improvements in treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and existential distress in patients with terminal illness.
The Modern Renaissance Begins
The contemporary era of psilocybin research began with Roland Griffiths at Johns Hopkins University. In 2006, Griffiths published a landmark study in Psychopharmacology -- the first rigorously controlled clinical trial of psilocybin in nearly 40 years. Thirty hallucinogen-naive volunteers who reported regular participation in religious or spiritual activities received either psilocybin (30 mg/70 kg) or methylphenidate (an active placebo) in counterbalanced, double-blind sessions.
The results were remarkable. Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences that volunteers rated, at two-month follow-up, as having substantial personal meaning and spiritual significance. More than 70% of volunteers rated the experience among the top five most meaningful experiences of their lives. Community observers confirmed sustained positive changes in attitudes and behavior. A 14-month follow-up study, published in 2008, confirmed that these effects persisted.
