9 December 2024 10:39
Topic starter
Q&A
3
posts
4
users
2
Reactions
852
views
1
Can psychedelics like psilocybin help with smoking addiction?
9 December 2024 10:48
Can psychedelics like psilocybin help with smoking addiction?
Yes, psychedelics like psilocybin can help with smoking addiction. Research has shown that psilocybin can have a positive influence on quitting smoking. A 2014 study by Johns Hopkins showed that 80 percent of smokers who participated in psilocybin treatment had completely quit smoking six months after the trial. This is significantly higher than the success rate of approximately 35 percent for traditional methods such as varenicline, a prescription medication for smoking addiction.
The effect of psilocybin can be attributed to the neurogenesis it induces, leading to new connections in the brain. This occurs through the stimulation of the 5HT2a receptor, resulting in an increased release of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), a hormone that repairs nerve cells and promotes new connections. The balance between serotonin and dopamine and the experience during the psilocybin trip also play a role.
Moreover, research shows that psilocybin is not physically addictive, making it a promising option for addiction treatment. It can help addicts find meaning, direction, intention, and connection in their lives, which is important for recovery.
2 Answers
1
4 November 2025 12:21
Yes, this is also scientifically supported by various studies outside of Johns Hopkins. The mechanism is actually even more interesting than Marcel already indicates. Let me add some nuance to this.
The 80% quit rate after 6 months reported by Johns Hopkins is indeed particularly high. This was a small pilot study from 2014 with about 15 participants, so one must be cautious with it, but later follow-up studies have shown similar results. Johns Hopkins has since treated more than 350 patients with smoking addiction using psilocybin.
Regarding the mechanism: psilocybin does indeed work via 5HT2a receptors, but it is not just neurogenesis and BDNF. An important aspect that Marcel emphasizes less is that psilocybin also alters your brain's default mode network. This network is active when you are not focused on external tasks—this is where you experience rumination and nicotine cravings. By temporarily 'turning off' this network, your brain gets the chance to literally redirect patterns.
Moreover, the psychological component plays a very important role: the psilocybin session itself, usually under professional supervision, offers a kind of reset moment. Many smokers report that they literally no longer feel the need after a psilocybin session. This suggests that it works not only neuropharmacologically, but also through a kind of reorientation of personal values and priorities.
Another mechanism that recent research has demonstrated: psilocybin increases neuroplasticity – this means that new neural connections can be formed more easily and old habits can be replaced more easily. This is actually the ultimate basis for behavioral change.
0
6 November 2025 09:35
Yes, research suggests that psilocybin can help with smoking addiction. A study showed that smokers quit after psilocybin therapy. It works by stimulating neuroplasticity and re-evaluating personal values, which helps to let go of old patterns.