Opioid help from fungi

THE use of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, is associated with a lower risk of opioid addiction, according to a US study.

The researchers used survey data to investigate psychedelic drug use, opioid use and signs of opioid use disorder.

They say opioid use disorder was 30 per cent less likely among those who had used psilocybin compared with those who had never used it, and most symptoms of opioid dependence and abuse were less likely among people who had tried psilocybin.

The researchers say they cannot establish whether psilocybin use causes the lower risk of opioid addiction.