Mental Joe is on a mission to break the stigma around addiction and alternative medicines that can help service men and women stop using drugs and alcohol, because sometimes conventional therapies and rehab just aren’t enough to stop the cravings.
Rehab may help patients stop using drugs and alcohol temporarily, but it can lead to high relapse rates once the program ends. Research shows that psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient found in magic mushrooms, may help curb addiction when combined with psychotherapy. Discover the science behind using psilocybin for alcoholism, opioid use disorders, and smoking cessation.
The Objective: Ending the Cycle of Addiction
At Mental Joe, we know how addiction can leave veterans and first responders trapped in a cycle of dependency for years.
According to the American Addiction Centers, 48.4 million (16.8%) Americans aged 12 and older struggled with a substance use disorder in 2024 (American Addiction Centers, 2024). Just under half, 21.2 million adults, suffered from a mental health disorder and substance use disorder (SUD). Addiction is common among military veterans and first responders, many of whom are struggling with depression and PTSD. In 2023, 2.8 million veterans, 14% of all veterans, had at least one substance abuse disorder in the previous year (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, over 100,000 people die from drug overdoses every year in the United States, with opioids contributing to roughly 76% of all drug overdose deaths (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2019).
Providers often treat addiction with a mix of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmaceuticals. CBT is effective in breaking the negative thinking loop associated with SUDs. Prescription medications can help patients manage withdrawal symptoms and ease cravings. However, these treatments are not universally effective and can lead to high relapse rates, especially once treatment ends (Meshkat et al., 2025). Service members may also struggle with the cost of addiction treatment, accessibility issues, and the stigma associated with seeking help. But what if there is a better way to treat addiction?
Psilocybin can act as a psychoplastogen to help treat various neuropsychiatric diseases, including substance use disorders. Research shows that these diseases develop due to the brain’s inability to strengthen or weaken circuits associated with mood and anxiety, which leads to maladaptive behavior responses. Psilocybin may help reorganize these circuits to interrupt patterns of negative thinking that lead to drug use.
Psychoplastogens, including ketamine, psychedelics, and scopolamine, are a new class of fast-acting therapeutics that can foster neuroplasticity in individuals struggling with addiction, anxiety, and depression (Olson, 2018). They represent a paradigm shift in addiction and opioid use treatment and may help more veterans and service men and women find relief from these destructive urges.
The Evidence: Clinical Trial Results
We follow the science to help service members learn what’s driving their addiction.
Several studies illustrate psilocybin’s potential to break the loop of addiction. A Johns Hopkins clinical trial involving a group of longtime cigarette smokers who had tried and failed to stop smoking many times showed that controlled and monitored use of psilocybin as part of a cognitive therapy program was more effective at helping patients quit than traditional medications like varenicline, leading to an abstinence rate of 80% after six months (Johns Hopkins University, 2014).
A study from NYU found that two doses of psilocybin reduced heavy drinking consumption by 83% among heavy drinkers when combined with psychotherapy. Nearly half of the participants had stopped drinking altogether eight months after receiving their first dose, roughly twice the number of patients who received a placebo (NYU Langone Health, 2022).
Research from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that the lifetime use of psilocybin is associated with a reduced risk of opioid use disorder (OUD) (Weleff et al., 2025).
How It Works: The Pattern Interrupt
Fighting addiction isn’t about being strong enough to resist the urge to use. Addiction lives in the brain and often results from deeply ingrained neural loops that affect our habits and behaviors. Psilocybin works as a pattern interrupt by resetting the rigid neural pathways associated with reward that leave individuals trapped in a cycle of addiction.
Depression and PTSD are often associated with circuit changes in the prefrontal cortex, disrupting mood regulation and the release of natural antidepressants. These changes can alter the Default Mode Network (DMN), which supports internal, self-referential mental activities such as memory, rumination, and envisioning the future. Abnormal connectivity in the DMN is associated with addiction, making it harder for individuals to shift away from drug-related thoughts. Psilocybin can help modulate the DMN by reducing functional connectivity in this region of the brain, which can help patients move away from the automatic thinking patterns that lead to drug use.
Emerging clinical evidence also suggests that psilocybin can reduce neural inflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and major depressive disorder (de Deus et al., 2025). The therapy can prevent neurodegeneration, increase neuroplasticity, and support brain cell health and survival.
Safety & the “Set and Setting” Protocol
Psilocybin-assisted therapy doesn’t mean taking mushrooms and hoping for the best. It’s all about where and how the session takes place.
Studies suggest psilocybin may be effective in curbing addiction and SUDs when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. It is administered in controlled settings under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Patients may experience hallucinations or unpleasant memories during sessions, and CBT can help these individuals process these experiences.
More research is needed to explore the exact therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin. For example, it is not clear whether psychotherapy makes psilocybin more effective or if standalone psychedelic treatment for addiction is effective. However, clinical trials suggest a low risk of toxicity and dependency among participants. Psilocybin is generally considered non-addictive and does not cause withdrawal.
Legal Status & Access (2025 Update)
Based on the emerging evidence, Mental Joe is here to increase access to psilocybin-assisted therapy for addiction, especially among service members and first responders.
However, psilocybin is a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act and is considered illegal across most of the U.S. Several states and localities, including Oregon, Colorado, and Oakland, CA, have decriminalized the supervised therapeutic use of the drug. Due to these restrictions, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not offer psilocybin as a treatment for addiction, but it is investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy through government-funded research.
Patients are discouraged from using standalone psychedelic therapy for addiction due to the risks of abuse.
Debrief: The Future of Recovery
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is changing the way healthcare providers think about addiction. It represents a shift from managing symptoms to treating the underlying causes of drug use rooted in abnormal brain circuitry. Veterans and their loved ones should discuss treatment options with a licensed professional.
If something isn’t working, change it. Drugs and addiction don’t have to be part of your story. It’s all about finding the right treatment and facing PTSD head-on by charging through the storm.
** This article is strictly meant to provide information and is for educational purposes only. It should not be taken as medical or legal advice. **
Frequently Asked Questions
Can psilocybin cure addiction in one dose?
No, psilocybin cannot cure addiction in one dose, but repeat doses in controlled settings can lead to reduced cravings and consumption.
Is it legal to use psilocybin for addiction treatment?
Yes, patients can legally receive psilocybin addiction treatment in states where psilocybin is legal, including Oregon, New Mexico, and Colorado. Texas, Washington state, and Nevada also allow psilocybin for medical research. However, psilocybin is a Schedule 1 substance and remains illegal throughout most of the U.S. amid a changing regulatory landscape.
Will I get addicted to psilocybin?
No, psilocybin is non-addictive and does not cause withdrawal. However, using it as a standalone therapy can lead to misuse.
Do I have to work with a therapist during treatment?
Yes, participants are typically required to meet with a psychotherapist as part of their treatment.
Does insurance cover psilocybin therapy?
No, psilocybin for alcoholism, drug use, and smoking is not typically covered by insurance. Patients typically have to pay out of pocket.
References
American Addiction Centers. (2024, December 31). Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (Facts About Addiction). American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics-demographics
de Deus, J. L., Maia, J. M., Soriano, R. N., Amorim, M. R., & Branco, L. G. S. (2025). Psychedelics in neuroinflammation: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 137, 111278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111278
Department of Veterans Affairs. (2023, June 20). Substance Use Disorders. Www.hsrd.research.va.gov. https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/research_topics/sud.cfm
Johns Hopkins University. (2014, September 11). Hallucinogen in “magic mushrooms” helps longtime smokers quit in Hopkins trial. The Hub; HUB. https://hub.jhu.edu/2014/09/11/magic-mushrooms-smoking/
Meshkat, S., Malik, G., Zeifman, R. J., Swainson, J., Balachandra, K., Reichelt, A. C., Zhang, Y., Burback, L., Winkler, O., Greenshaw, A., Vermetten, E., Mayo, L. M., Tanguay, R., Jetly, R., & Bhat, V. (2025). Efficacy and safety of psilocybin for the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 173, 106163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106163
National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. (2019). Drug overdose death statistics: Fentanyl, opioids, heroin & more. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. https://drugabusestatistics.org/drug-overdose-deaths/
NYU Langone Health. (2022, August 24). Psychedelic Drug Therapy May Help Treat Alcohol Addiction. NYU Langone News. https://nyulangone.org/news/psychedelic-drug-therapy-may-help-treat-alcohol-addiction
Olson, D. E. (2018). Psychoplastogens: A Promising Class of Plasticity-Promoting Neurotherapeutics. Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, 12, 1–1. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179069518800508
Weleff, J., Pulido-Saavedra, A., Aghaei, A. M., Ing, K., Arakelian, M., Fontenele, R., Nero, N., Barnett, B. S., Anand, A., Bassir Nia, A., & Angarita, G. A. (2025). The therapeutic effects of psychedelics for opioid use disorder: A systematic review of clinical studies. Psychiatry Research, 348, 116446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116446