Psychedelics Beat Nicotine Patches in Study to Help Smokers Quit

A single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, appears significantly more effective than nicotine patches at helping people quit smoking, a new study shows.

Researchers conducted a randomized trial involving 82 adult smokers who were “psychiatrically healthy.” It compared the efficacy of nicotine patches given for eight-to-ten weeks with a single high dose of psilocybin. Both treatments were combined with 13 weeks of talk therapy.

Over 40% of those in the psilocybin group weren’t smoking after six months, compared to only 10% of the nicotine patch group. At the six-month mark, those receiving psilocybin were three ...