Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s approval of psilocybin therapy marks a significant shift in mental health treatment options within the state. Psilocybin, a compound found in certain types of mushrooms, has shown promise in treating mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
For residents of Utah, this development opens new doors to alternative treatments that could complement traditional therapies. While Acqua Recovery continues to focus on evidence-based methods to help individuals manage mental health disorders, we feel it’s important to stay up to date with all mental health treatment.
Utah Legalizes Psilocybin to Treat Mental Illness
In early 2024, use of psilocybin compounds for treating mental health was legalized in Utah. The legalization of psilocybin therapy in Utah represents a groundbreaking step in the state’s approach to mental health treatment. Psilocybin, the active compound in certain psychedelic mushrooms, has been the subject of extensive research, showing promising results in treating various mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
By legalizing its therapeutic use, Utah has joined a growing number of states and regions exploring the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies as alternatives or complements to conventional mental health treatments. This shift reflects an evolving understanding of mental health care, emphasizing innovative approaches that can help individuals struggling with treatment-resistant conditions. The move also opens the door for further research and development of safe, controlled environments for administering these treatments, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary medical support while undergoing therapy.
What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” These compounds interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perception, mood, and cognition. Psilocybin has been shown to have therapeutic potential, particularly in mental health treatment, where it has been studied for its ability to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
In mental health treatment, Psilocybe cubensis and Psilocybe semilanceata are two common species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin and are often used in controlled therapeutic settings. Clinical trials have demonstrated that psilocybin, when administered in a guided, supportive environment, can facilitate deep emotional insights and promote lasting changes in mood and behavior. This therapy (sometimes combined with traditional psychotherapy) offers new hope for individuals with treatment-resistant mental health conditions
There are various species of mushrooms that contain these compounds, including some well-known types of psilocybin-containing mushrooms:
- Psilocybe cubensis: One of the most widely known and cultivated psilocybin mushrooms, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.”
- Psilocybe semilanceata: Also known as “liberty caps,” these mushrooms grow naturally in the wild and are potent in psilocybin content.
- Psilocybe cyanescens: Known as “wavy caps,” these mushrooms are found in various parts of the world and have high psilocybin levels.
- Psilocybe azurescens: Often considered one of the most potent psilocybin mushrooms, these are native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Each species contains varying levels of psilocybin and psilocin, and the specific effects can depend on the dose and environment in which they are taken. In clinical settings, the psilocybin compound is extracted and used in a purified form for mental health treatment.
No, psychedelics and psilocybin are not the same.
Psychedelics are a broad class of substances that alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes. They can include naturally occurring compounds like psilocybin, as well as synthetic substances such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Psychedelics work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain (primarily serotonin), leading to altered states of consciousness, hallucinations, and profound emotional experiences.
Psilocybin, on the other hand, specifically refers to the active compounds found in certain species of mushrooms (commonly known as magic mushrooms). Psilocybin and psilocin are the key psychedelic components in these mushrooms and are just one category within the broader psychedelic group.
In summary, all psilocybin mushrooms are psychedelics, but not all psychedelics may feature psilocybin.
What Can Psilocybin Help to Treat?
Psilocybin has shown potential in helping treat a range of mental health conditions. These include:
Psilocybin has been effective in alleviating symptoms of depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression, where traditional antidepressants fail to work. It can lead to profound emotional insights and mood improvements for some people.
Particularly in individuals with terminal illness, psilocybin has been used to reduce anxiety related to death and existential distress, helping patients come to terms with their condition.
Psilocybin may help individuals with PTSD by allowing them to revisit traumatic memories in a safe, therapeutic setting. This can lead to emotional processing and healing.
Psilocybin has shown potential in treating substance use disorders such as alcoholism and smoking addiction by helping individuals break free from habitual patterns of thinking and behavior.
Some research suggests psilocybin can reduce the symptoms of OCD, by altering repetitive thought patterns and providing new perspectives on compulsive behaviors.
How Does Psilocybin Treat Mental Health Disorders?
Psilocybin interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, which is linked to cognition and some psychological conditions. Here’s how it works:
- Neuroplasticity: Psilocybin promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. This allows individuals to break free from rigid, negative thought patterns that often characterize mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
- Emotional Reset: Psilocybin helps to “reset” the brain by facilitating profound emotional experiences and shifts in perspective. Patients often report a heightened sense of connection, self-awareness, and release from past trauma or limiting beliefs.
- Altered Perception: During a psilocybin experience, individuals undergo altered states of consciousness, which can help them confront their thoughts and emotions from new angles. This can lead to deep emotional insights and breakthroughs, particularly when guided by a professional therapist.
Medical Use of Psilocybin
In clinical settings, psilocybin therapy is carefully administered under professional supervision. Here’s how professionals use it:
- Controlled Doses: Psilocybin is administered in measured doses in a safe, clinical environment, ensuring the experience is beneficial and controlled.
- Guided Therapy: Patients typically undergo psilocybin therapy in combination with psychotherapy, where a trained therapist guides them through the experience. This allows for therapeutic exploration of the emotions and insights that arise during the session.
- Integration: After the psilocybin experience, professionals help patients integrate what they’ve learned into their everyday life. This integration is crucial for lasting changes in mood and behavior.
By providing a safe environment and professional guidance, psilocybin therapy can offer individuals a transformative experience that helps them manage and help them to transcend the symptoms of mental health disorders.
What Are the Risks of Psilocybin Treatment?
While psilocybin therapy shows promise in treating mental health disorders, there are several risks to be aware of:
Psilocybin can trigger intense emotional and psychological experiences, sometimes leading to “bad trips.” Individuals may experience extreme fear, anxiety, paranoia, or panic. These experiences can be overwhelming and may worsen pre-existing mental health conditions (like anxiety or psychosis) if not properly managed.
Psilocybin causes altered perceptions, which can lead to hallucinations. While these are often part of the therapeutic process, they may cause confusion or distress in some cases. This is a particular risk in those prone to psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
Some individuals may experience flashbacks, known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), where they re-experience aspects of the psilocybin trip after the drug has worn off. These can be distressing and disruptive to daily life.
For individuals with certain conditions, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, psilocybin may exacerbate symptoms or trigger psychosis. It’s critical that individuals with such diagnoses be carefully screened before undergoing psilocybin therapy.
Psilocybin therapy opens up emotional vulnerability, and without proper professional guidance, individuals may struggle to process the intense emotions or memories that arise during the experience.
While psilocybin is not physically addictive, there is a risk that individuals may misuse the substance in an attempt to self-medicate or recreate the therapeutic experience, leading to unreliable or unsafe use outside of a controlled environment.
Get Treatment At Acqua Recovery
Acqua Recovery has treatment centers in Utah and Colorado.Our team utilizes some alternative therapies, but not psilocybin therapy. We believe in a holistic approach that helps to treat the whole person for lasting recovery from addiction. To treat mental health we use evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing therapy.
If you struggle with your mental health, call us at Acqua Recovery to learn more about treatment.
