{"id":53651,"date":"2026-04-07T00:45:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/?p=53651"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:43:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:43:00","slug":"psilocybin-superior-to-nicotine-patches-in-pilot-study-using-cbt-to-stop-smoking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/53651","title":{"rendered":"Psilocybin is 6-fold more effective than nicotine patches to stop smoking in pilot US study with CBT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base<\/strong><\/p>\n

The results of a small US randomised pilot study of medical psilocybin (the hallucinogen in magic mushrooms) in 82 HIV-negative smokers are notable for reporting a 6-fold higher response rate compared to standard of care with nicotine patches. [1]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Participants (60% male, 90% white) were required to want to quit and reported a median of six previous failed attempts.<\/p>\n

The intervention arm involved a single high dose (30mg\/70kg) of psilocybin compared to 8 to 10 weeks of FDA\u2013approved nicotine patch treatments. Both groups received a 13-week CBT programme for smoking cessation which started five weeks before the intervention, with additional psychological support on hallucinogens for participants randomised to psilocybin.<\/p>\n

At 6-month follow-up, prolonged abstinence was verified for 17 (40%) vs 4 (10%) participants in the psilocybin vs nicotine patch arms respectively [OR: 6.12 (95% CI: 1.99 to 23.26)], p=0.003. Seven-day abstinence was reported for 22 (52%) vs 10 (25%), respectively [OR: 3.30 (95% CI: 1.32 to 8.70)], p=0.01.<\/p>\n

No serious adverse events were reported for either intervention.<\/p>\n

For full details please see the open access paper published in JAMA Open.<\/p>\n

comment<\/h3>\n

This study is reported for serious reasons.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from using effective ART, stopping smoking is one of the most significant changes that people living with HIV can do to improve life expectancy. Yet currently approved anti-smoking products, including nicotine patches, report very low long-term response rates.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Importantly, CBT was an essential component of this study, with specific additional support for the psilocybin arm. The paper also reported an earlier open-label pilot study in 15 participants using CBT for smoking cessation and up to three lower psilocybin doses (20 to 30 mg\/70 kg). In this study, biologically verified 7-day abstinence rates were 80%, 67% and 60% at 6, 12 and 30 months, respectively.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, although psilocybin-containing mushrooms are classified as Class A drugs in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, UK studies with psilocybin include using it as a potential treatment for depression, PTSD, opioid addiction and anorexia nervosa. [2, 3]<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, it is currently illegal to possess, consume, cultivate or supply these mushrooms, with potential penalties including up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine. [4, 5]<\/strong><\/p>\n

A paper also published this week in Nature Medicine reported that although the chemical structures of five common psychedelic drugs (psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine and ayahuasca) are very different, they produced similar areas of activity in the brain when tracked by MRI scans. [6]<\/strong><\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Johnson MW et al. Psilocybin or nicotine patch for smoking cessation:\u00a0A pilot randomized clinical trial.\u00a0JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(3):e260972. doi:10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2026.0972
    \nhttps:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2846155<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Imperial College. Centre for Psychedelic Research.
    \n    https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/psychedelic-research-centre<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. King’s College London. Psychoactive Trials Group.
    \n    https:\/\/www.kcl.ac.uk\/research\/psychoactive-trials-group<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Spore Supplies. Magic Mushroom Laws in the UK (2026): What\u2019s Legal What\u2019s Not and Why It Matters.
    \n    https:\/\/sporesupplies.co.uk\/blogs\/how-to-guides\/magic-mushroom-laws-in-the-uk-2025-what-s-legal-what-s-not-and-why-it-matters<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. gov.uk. Drug penalties.
    \n    https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/penalties-drug-possession-dealing<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Girn M et al. \u00a0An international mega-analysis of psychedelic drug effects on brain circuit function. Nat Med, DOI: 10.1038\/s41591-026-04287-9. (06 April 2026).
    \n    https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41591-026-04287-9<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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