title: Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation.
abstract: A recent open-label pilot study (N = 15) found that two to three moderate to high doses (20 and 30 mg/70 kg) of the serotonin 2A receptor agonist, psilocybin, in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation, resulted in substantially higher 6-month smoking abstinence rates than are typically observed with other medications or CBT alone.
  
  
  
  To assess long-term effects of a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation program at ≥12 months after psilocybin administration.
  
  
  
  The present report describes biologically verified smoking abstinence outcomes of the previous pilot study at ≥12 months, and related data on subjective effects of psilocybin.
  
  
  
  All 15 participants completed a 12-month follow-up, and 12 (80%) returned for a long-term (≥16 months) follow-up, with a mean interval of 30 months (range = 16-57 months) between target-quit date (i.e., first psilocybin session) and long-term follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, 10 participants (67%) were confirmed as smoking abstinent. At long-term follow-up, nine participants (60%) were confirmed as smoking abstinent. At 12-month follow-up 13 participants (86.7%) rated their psilocybin experiences among the five most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives.
  
  
  
  These results suggest that in the context of a structured treatment program, psilocybin holds considerable promise in promoting long-term smoking abstinence. The present study adds to recent and historical evidence suggesting high success rates when using classic psychedelics in the treatment of addiction. Further research investigating psilocybin-facilitated treatment of substance use disorders is warranted.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Romeu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.|b Department of Neuroscience , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011562:Psilocybin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D011562:Psilocybin
keywords: Hallucinogen; addiction; mystical experience; nicotine; psilocybin; psychedelic; smoking cessation; spirituality; tobacco