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Psychedelics may offer new path to quit smoking
Nicotine addiction ranks among the hardest habits to break, with fewer than 10% of smokers succeeding in quitting each year. Emerging research suggests psychedelic drugs like psilocybin could help by altering how users perceive their smoking habit.
How psychedelics change perspectives
A 2017 survey of 781 people found that LSD or magic mushrooms helped many reduce or stop smoking entirely. Nearly all who quit reported a shift in life priorities, viewing cigarettes as no longer aligned with their values.
"The experience overshadowed the psychological challenge of quitting," says Matthew Johnson, a psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Matthew Johnson, Johns Hopkins University
Clinical trials show strong results
In a March 2026 study, Johnson's team found psilocybin combined with therapy was six times more effective than nicotine patches. Six months post-treatment, 52% of psilocybin participants remained smoke-free, compared to 25% using patches.
The trial involved 82 smokers who received either a high dose of psilocybin or nicotine patches, alongside cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants had smoked for decades and failed multiple quit attempts.
Why psychedelics work remains unclear
Scientists speculate psilocybin may reopen "critical periods" in the brain-windows of heightened plasticity usually limited to childhood. This could help users adopt new habits during therapy.
"Psychedelics create a window for learning new behaviors," says Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at UC Berkeley. However, researchers caution the results need replication in larger, more diverse groups.
Challenges and future research
Psychedelics remain illegal in most countries, limiting research. Johnson's team is now conducting a larger, multi-site trial funded by a $4 million NIH grant-the first U.S. government-backed psychedelic study in 50 years.
Experts like Megan Piper, a clinical psychologist, call the findings "promising" but note the study's participants were mostly white and educated. "We need more tools to combat smoking," she says, as it remains the leading preventable cause of death globally.
Combining therapies for lasting change
Dominique Morisano, a University of Toronto psychologist, suggests integrating exercise, mindfulness, or meditation with psilocybin therapy to enhance results. "Addiction is complex," she says. "Successful treatment may require multiple approaches."
Johnson's team is also analyzing brain imaging data to identify patterns linked to quitting success. He believes behavioral plasticity is key: "Psychedelics can shake up entrenched habits, offering a potential way out."
