John Hopkins Study on Psilocybin and its Ability to Help Longtime Smokers Quit
Methods: In this small study, researchers administered psilocybin to 15 long-term smokers who had tried quitting smoking multiple times in the past without success. The first hallucinogenic dose was administered the day each participant planned to quit smoking. Two sessions, with higher doses of the plant medicine, were held two weeks and eight weeks later, as part of a comprehensive cognitive behavior therapy and smoking cessation program that included counseling sessions and auxiliary techniques. During each psilocybin session, lasting six to seven hours, participants wore eyeshades and earphones playing music; encouraged to relax and focus on their inner experiences. They were closely monitored by two members of the research team in a comfortable setting. These sessions were followed up by 6, 12 and 16 month check ups to record their progress.
Demographics:
Participants: 10 men and 5 women with an average age of 51.
Smoking History: Smoked, on average 19 cigarettes a day for 31 years. Most had previously attempted other smoking cessation methods to no avail.
Results:
Outcome: The study reported highly promising results with all 15 participants completing the 6 and 12-month follow-up. 12 participants (80%) returned for the long-term 16-month follow-up
6-Month Mark: Six months after their psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions,12 out of 15 participants (80%) remained smoke-free.
12-Month Mark: 12 months following their sessions, 10 participants (67%) were confirmed as smoking abstinent. 86.7% rated their psilocybin experiences among the five most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives.
16-Month Mark: At the 16-month follow-up, 9 participants (60%) were confirmed smoking abstinent.
Other Methods: These outcomes display notably high success rates compared to other conventional smoking cessation methods such as varenicline considered to be the most effective with a 35% success rate or nicotine replacement and behavioral therapies typically at less than 30% of a success rate.
Overall: The participants described their experiences with psilocybin as profoundly introspective, with an increase in mindfulness and reduced cravings, leading to a change in their relationship with smoking.
Conclusion: This research suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy can be a powerful tool in helping long-term smokers quit their habit. The high abstinence rates observed after treatment underscore the therapeutic potential of this hallucinogenic compound in curing addiction for long-time smokers. These findings also emphasize the importance of further exploration with larger sample sizes in clinical trials to better understand and harness the benefits of psychedelics in addressing substance dependence.
