Do magic mushrooms hold key to quit smoking?

Magic Mushrooms can help smokers kick the habit, a new study states.

Researchers of this small study of 15 people found that psilocybin, an active compound in the magic mushrooms, might help long time smokers quit the habit.

The findings of the new research stated that 12 out of the 15 long time smokers successfully quit smoking within six months of starting the psilocybin medication, Headlines & Global News reported.

For the study, the researchers gave the subjects moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high doses (30 mg/70 kg) of psilocybin. All the participants were a part of a comprehensive cognitive behaviour therapy smoking cessation program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Researchers noted that the prior to the study, 10 men and five women, aged around 51, smoked at least 19 cigarettes per day for 31 years and had six unsuccessful smoking cessation attempts.

According to the researchers, the results are important because varenicline, one of the widely used prescription medications for nicotine addiction, gives just 35 percent success rates, while nicotine replacement and behavioral therapies often provide below 30 percent success.

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