A study based on online Google searches suggests surging U.S. interest in microdosing psychedelics, such as psilocybin, as rules around the use of such drugs begin to relax.
But the safety of these drugs isn't entirely clear, said study lead author Dr. Kevin Yang.
"As public interest in using psychedelics and cannabis for health grows, it's crucial that the medical community conducts studies to establish a strong evidence base for their safety and efficacy," said Yang, a psychiatry resident physician at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine.
'Magic mushrooms' have long been used recreationally to get high, but in recent years numerous studies have suggested that the fungus' active ingredient, the hallucinogen psilocybin, might have some therapeutic effects if used in smaller doses ("microdosing") under controlled conditions.
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