Past-Year Psilocybin and Alcohol Co-Use: Associations With Mental Health Symptoms

Psilocybin use is linked to fewer depressive symptoms even among regular alcohol drinkers

A recent study published in the Journal of Drug Issues analyzed data from 2,841 U.S. adults and found that those who reported both past-year psilocybin use and alcohol use had fewer depressive symptoms than adults who reported alcohol use without psilocybin. The association remained significant after adjusting for demographic characteristics, cannabis use, and other psychedelic use. Notably, the study did not find similarly robust associations with anxiety or overall poor mental health after adjustment. Because the research was observational and cross-sectional, it cannot determine whether psilocybin directly improved mental health or whether other factors explain the association.

Abstract

Interest has grown in the effects of psilocybin on mental health, but little is known about its naturalistic use alongside alcohol and its relationship to depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Data from the nationally-representative 2024 National Survey Investigating Hallucinogenic Trends of participants who did (n = 1234) or did not (n = 1607) report past-year psilocybin and alcohol co-use were compared on depressive and anxiety symptoms and poor mental health days.

Weighted regressions adjusted for age, sex, survey collection period, race, ethnicity, and past-year cannabis and other psychedelic use. Individuals with psilocybin and alcohol co-use had fewer depressive symptoms (B(SE) = −.57(.28), β = −.04, p = .043) than those who used alcohol without psilocybin, suggesting potential benefits of psilocybin in individuals with co-use.

After removing cannabis and other psychedelic use covariates, psilocybin use was also related to lower anxiety symptoms. However, given the observational and self-report study design, causal inferences cannot be made. Thus, longitudinal and experimental studies are needed.

Hummel, H. M., Obrochta, A. N., Kerr, D. C. R., & Cservenka, A. (2026). Past-Year Psilocybin and Alcohol Co-Use: Associations With Mental Health Symptoms. Journal of Drug Issues, 0(0). Read Paper

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