Groundbreaking Study Reveals Psilocybin Can CRUSH Smoking Addiction | Dr Matt Johnson
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A groundbreaking new study led by Dr. Matt Johnson at Johns Hopkins reveals that a single psilocybin session, combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, achieved a 52% smoking abstinence rate at six months—more than double the 25% success rate of the nicotine patch, the current gold standard. This isn’t just a statistical blip: the effect persists over time, with a 'fat tail' of sustained abstinence suggesting psilocybin therapy may create lasting psychological change, not just temporary relief. The results are even more astonishing in a parallel study on cocaine addiction, where nearly 100% of participants remained abstinent six months after one psilocybin session—despite being from a marginalized, low-income population with no prior psychedelic experience. These findings challenge the notion that psychedelics are only for the privileged or spiritually inclined, showing they can work across deeply entrenched addictions and diverse demographics. Dr. Johnson argues this isn’t about the drug itself, but about a profound psychological shift: a 're-framing' of identity, agency, and meaning that allows people to break free from addictive patterns they’ve struggled with for decades. The implications extend beyond smoking and cocaine—potentially reshaping treatment for alcohol, opioid, gambling, and food addictions. Yet the study also reveals a sobering reality: not everyone benefits, and some experience intense, even traumatic, sessions.
One psilocybin session with therapy led to 52% smoking abstinence at six months—double the success rate of the nicotine patch.
Psilocybin therapy for cocaine addiction showed nearly 100% abstinence at six months in a study of low-income, marginalized participants.
The therapy works not through pharmacological action but by enabling a psychological 'identity shift' and reframing of addiction as a personal narrative.
Participants often reported profound insights during the session—sometimes unrelated to addiction—yet still achieved lasting cessation.
The treatment is effective even in populations with no prior psychedelic experience or positive associations with psychedelics.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Deadly Reality of Combustible Cigarettes
The episode opens with a stark warning: smoked cigarettes kill four times more people than alcohol annually, making them the leading preventable cause of death globally. The host emphasizes the scale of the crisis—up to five million deaths worldwide each year—and sets the stage for why new treatments are urgently needed.
The UK’s Tobacco Ban: A Dangerous Experiment?
The UK’s landmark bill to ban tobacco sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009, is examined critically. Dr. Johnson argues it will inevitably increase black market activity, leading to higher exposure to dangerous contaminants like lead, and undermines personal freedom without proven effectiveness.
Vaping as Harm Reduction: A Balanced View
Dr. Johnson defends flavored vapes as a legitimate harm reduction tool, arguing they are far safer than smoking and more effective than FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies. He warns that banning flavors risks pushing smokers back to combustible cigarettes.
The Psilocybin Study: One Session, Massive Results
“In this study, we compared one psilocybin session versus a course of nicotine patch, both with the same talk therapy for quitting smoking. In the single psilocybin session group, we had at six months 52 percent of people not smoking anymore. With the nicotine patch group, we had 25% of people not smoking anymore. So a huge difference. That's massive.”
Why Psilocybin Works: The Psychology of Addiction
“It just dwarfed the smoking thing. And that seemed to be helpful. It's like, dude, I was dealing with the miracle of existence and the magnitude of reality. And I realized, oh my God, my little struggles to quit smoking used to be like this. Now it's like this little thing. Like I could deal with that.”
“In this study, we compared one psilocybin session versus a course of nicotine patch, both with the same talk therapy for quitting smoking. In the single psilocybin session group, we had at six months 52 percent of people not smoking anymore. With the nicotine patch group, we had 25% of people not smoking anymore. So a huge difference. That's massive.”
“It just dwarfed the smoking thing. And that seemed to be helpful. It's like, dude, I was dealing with the miracle of existence and the magnitude of reality. And I realized, oh my God, my little struggles to quit smoking used to be like this. Now it's like this little thing. Like I could deal with that.”
“Almost 100 abstinence with psilocybin therapy. Yeah, yeah. That's crazy. That's way higher than the smoking study. Although the control group is much higher too. True. Yeah. That's a ginormously positive effect.”
Host
Guest
dr. matt johnson
person
johns hopkins
organization
cognitive behavioral therapy
other
nicotine patch
product
peter hendricks
person
uk tobacco and vapes bill
other
fda
organization
jama open network
other
marty mccary
person
nida
organization
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