Growing scope of Oregon psilocybin program raises safety concerns, study says

Oregon’s landmark effort allowing adults older than 21 to access psilocybin has evolved beyond “strictly medical uses” and may be allowing more people to enroll in the program than is safe, according to a new study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University published their findings in mid-June in the International Journal of Drug Policy, drawing upon 2025 data from the Oregon Health Authority.

The study notes most patients in Oregon’s program come from high-income backgrounds and outside of Oregon. They found that few people had an adverse reaction to the psychedelic drug, but that a significant proportion of clients in Oregon reported using psilocybin services for general health and wellness. The other top two reasons for participation in the service last year were change in perspective and “expanded consciousness,” according to state data.

Oregon is the only state in the nation to use a “supported adult use” model for psilocybin access, meaning individuals only have to be supervised by a licensed facilitator at a service center and can access the drug for their own personal reasons. But researchers warned that the program raises “several safety concerns,” particularly when individuals are seeking psilocybin for serious medical issues.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/01/repub/growing-scope-of-oregon-psilocybin-program-raises-safety-concerns-study-says/