Magic mushroom compound tested to help people quit cocaine

NCT ID NCT02037126

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, could help people reduce or stop using cocaine. Forty adults who wanted to quit cocaine were given either psilocybin or a placebo (diphenhydramine, an antihistamine) in a controlled setting. Researchers measured days of cocaine abstinence and brain changes using MRI. The goal was to see if psilocybin-assisted therapy is feasible and worth studying further for cocaine addiction.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: psilocybin (a psychedelic compound)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new treatment approach for cocaine addiction using psilocybin-assisted therapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small Phase 2 trial with only 40 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Psilocybin can cause intense psychological effects and is not yet proven effective for cocaine use.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cocaine dependence Cocaine-Related Disorders

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

COCAINE-RELATED DISORDERS

Contacts and locations

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Locations

UAB Outpatient Clinical Research Unit

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

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