Healthcare Professionals Support Psilocybin, Gaps in Training Remain

The world of fungi has always been a place of mystery—an underground network of connection and transformation. As psilocybin edges closer to mainstream medicine, a new study reveals an important gap: many healthcare professionals support its therapeutic potential, but few have formal training on its use.

A recent study published in Scientific Reports surveyed 879 U.S. healthcare professionals to understand their knowledge and attitudes toward psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy. The findings highlight a growing belief in the power of psychedelic medicine—but also a critical need for education.

🔬 Key Takeaways from the Study:

• Strong Support for Psilocybin: 96% of healthcare professionals surveyed believe psilocybin has therapeutic potential and support its medical use.
• Lack of Formal Training: While many respondents claimed to understand psilocybin therapy, objective knowledge checks showed significant gaps in their understanding of therapeutic indications, risks, and pharmacology.
• Concerns About Clinical Use: The biggest concerns among professionals were lack of trained providers, financial barriers, and patient safety.
• Younger and More Experienced Professionals Show More Openness: Those with prior psychedelic experience, younger practitioners, and mental health professionals were more open to clinical use of psilocybin compared to physicians, who showed more skepticism.

At Black Forest Mushrooms, we’ve seen firsthand how the lack of formal education on fungi extends beyond the culinary world into the scientific and medical communities. While ancient cultures have understood the power of mushrooms for centuries, modern medicine is still playing catch-up.

As psilocybin research expands, so must the training available to healthcare professionals. Without education, misinformation and stigma will continue to slow the progress of one of nature’s most intriguing healers.

Read the full study from Scientific Reports here: Nature.com