A newly published study from researchers at New York University found that individuals dealing with a stutter derived some benefit from substances such as psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” and LSD.

“Given the positive effects of psychedelics on conditions like anxiety and PTSD, which share symptoms with stuttering, we think that investigating the potential impact of psychedelics on stuttering can be a fruitful area of research,” said Eric S. Jackson, an associate professor of communicative sciences and disorders at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and the lead author of the study. 

The research, published this month in the Journal of Fluency Disorders, is the “first study to explore self-reported experiences of self-identified stutterers using classic psychedelics.”

“Stuttering poses challenges to social, occupational, and educational aspects of life. Traditional behavioral therapies can be helpful but effects are often limited. Pharmaceutical treatments have been explored, but there are no FDA-approved treatments for stuttering. Interest has grown in the potential use of classic psychedelics, including psilocybin and LSD, which have shown effectiveness in treating disorders with similar symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD). The potential effects of psychedelics on stuttering have not been explored,” Jackson and his team wrote in the study’s abstract.

Stuttering is “typically characterized by its symptoms—intermittent disruptions in speech,” they added. 

“Stuttering, or the possibility of stuttering, also triggers anxiety, fear, and shame which significantly impact quality of life. Negative reactions of listeners, such as teasing or mocking exacerbate these feelings, complicating the individual’s ability to cope with and move forward in speech when stuttering occurs. The speech of stutterers is amenable to change in therapy, but such change is often not durable with relics of tension, struggle, and avoidance re-emerging,” the researchers said. “To achieve lasting changes, stutterers may benefit from redefining their relationship with stuttering, exploring concepts like openness and self-acceptance. There is a pressing need for innovative approaches that support overall well-being, reduce negative thoughts and emotions, and enhance ease of communication for stutterers.”

They “conducted a preliminary investigation of self-identified stutterers who report their experiences taking classic psychedelics on the online messaging forum, Reddit,” before performing a qualitative analysis on “114 publicly available posts, extracting meaningful units and assigning descriptor codes inductively.”

The researchers said that their search of Reddit “yielded 167 posts, with 14 excluded for lacking firsthand accounts (e.g., describing others’ experiences) and 39 for not discussing classic psychedelics (rather, they discussed ketamine or MDMA). 

“The final sample comprised 114 posts from 104 Reddit distinct users, including multiple contributions from some users. Due to 12 users deleting their usernames, the exact number of unique users was estimated to be at least 92. Results reflective of individual percentages were based on 104,” they explained.

“We then deductively organized responses into an established framework of psychedelics which includes behavioral, emotional, cognitive, beliefbased, and social effects. These effects were subsequently grouped under organizing themes (positive, negative, neutral),” they wrote.

A majority of the users –– 74 percent –– ”reported positive overall short-term effects particularly related to behavioral and emotional change (e.g., reduced stuttering and anxiety), but negative (9.6%), mixed (positive and negative; 4.8%), and neutral overall experiences (11.6%) were also reported.” 

“The results support the possibility that psychedelics my impact stuttering, but caution must be applied in their interpretation given the entirely uncontrolled research setting and potential adverse health effects of psychedelics as reported elsewhere. While these results do not encourage the use of psychedelics by stutterers, they suggest that future work could examine the impact of psychedelics on stuttering under supervised and in clinically controlled settings,” the researchers wrote. 

They explained that the “results from a qualitative analysis of self-identified stutterers’ experiences of classic psychedelics, providing an initial investigation of the potential impact of psychedelics on stuttering from the perspective of stutterers.” 

The most reported effect among Reddit users, the researchers said, “was reduced stuttering, with half of users reporting a reduction in their stuttering.” 

“Users also reported reduced effort, ‘improved’ speech, and increased speech control while on psychedelics or shortly thereafter,” the researchers said. 

“People who stutter are in need of more effective treatments to manage intermittent disruptions in speech communication and also provide relief from distress that accompanies their social experiences, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation,” they wrote in their conclusion. “To date, there are no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies to treat stuttering. Our study suggests that some users on the internet forum Reddit who self-identify as people who stutter have reported beneficial short-term outcomes.”

Jackson said that the “results support the possibility that psychedelics may impact stuttering, but caution must be applied in their interpretation given the entirely uncontrolled research setting and potential adverse health effects of psychedelics as reported elsewhere.” 

“While these results do not encourage the use of psychedelics by stutterers, they suggest that future work could examine the impact of psychedelics on stuttering in randomized controlled clinical trials,” Jackson said. 

New York legislation Assembly Bill 10375 was recently introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin and aims to legalize psilocybin service centers.

If passed, the A10375 would amend public law “in relation to promoting the health and well-being of the citizens of the state of New York by establishing a comprehensive framework supporting public health and safety through regulated adult use, support services, and cultivation of psilocybin-containing fungi,” the bill stated.

It would also require that the Department of Health (DoH) take charge of regulations, which involves cultivator licenses and approving psilocybin service center facilities. It would also create a “Regulated Psilocybin Advisory Board” made up of 13 members to study federal laws and policies regarding psilocybin, and offer advice and recommendations to the DoH. The purposes of the board would be to “develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services in the state will become and remain a safe, accessible and affordable therapeutic option, including in therapeutic and medical treatments, for all persons eighteen years of age and older for whom psilocybin services may be appropriate.”

Psilocybin business expenses would be tax deductible, and proceeds and fees would go back into the program to fund “administration and other costs relating to programs pursuant to this title, including but not limited to public education and risks of using psilocybin.”

Currently there are 58 conditions that would qualify for a patient to utilize the services of a psilocybin center, which ranges from glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, migraines, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, treatment resistant depression, and so much more. Additionally, patients with other conditions not included in the initial list can also be considered for psilocybin therapy if it “has been identified in a study published in a medical or scientific journal.” In order for a patient to receive a permit for psilocybin therapy, they must first receive a health screening and complete a permit course.

The bill wouldn’t legalize psilocybin, and consumption, cultivation, and sales would be prohibited. Violators would be hit with a $250 fine and a maximum of 15 days imprisonment.

As of May 21, the bill has been sent to the Assembly Health Committee, of which Paulin is the chair.

Other legislation involving psilocybin has led to promising progress. In February 2023, Assemblymember Pat Burke introduced Assembly Bill 03581, which would establish a psilocybin assisted therapy grant program and allow patients to engage in such treatments either in a licensed treatment center, or at home if the patient cannot travel. “This country is facing a mental health crisis,” Burke wrote on X last year. “I am looking at all options to alleviate the pain so many are feeling. Breakthrough medicines like psilocybin are showing tremendous benefit. I carry the bill to legalize psilocybin therapy. Let’s get it done!”

In February 2024, Burke introduced Assembly Bill 08349 which would create a psilocybin  therapy pilot program for 10,000 veterans and first responders. “We’re in a mental health crisis, and so we need every tool that’s available to us,” Burke said.

Meanwhile, the state’s legal cannabis industry continues to develop. In mid-April, the New York Cannabis Control Board approved 101 adult-use cannabis licenses. “With the Cannabis Control Board’s issuance of 101 adult-use cannabis licenses, New York’s legal cannabis industry continues to make significant progress with over 400 licenses issued in 2024,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Strengthening New York’s equitable cannabis industry and ensuring the hard-working small business owners operating in the legal market have the licenses to open are the best way to protect the integrity of sales in New York.”

As of late April, the state celebrated the opening of its 100th dispensary, called Big Gas, which opened through the help of the New York State Cannabis Investment Fund. “New York State continues to make progress on standing up a safe and legal cannabis industry for business owners, farmers and residents across the state,” said Hochul about the news. “Today marks a historic milestone in establishing a thriving and equitable industry in our state with the 100th brick-and-mortar store opening.”

The topic of psilocybin continues to influence more illuminating research studies.  One such study which was published this month in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs showed evidence that it won’t change a person’s belief as an atheist, agnostic, or believer in God. “These findings suggest that concerns that psychedelics could change metaphysical beliefs or result in ‘conversions’ across religious affiliations may be overestimated,” wrote researchers of their findings. They added that “concerns related to changes in non-naturalistic beliefs or religious affiliation may be exaggerated.”

Other recent studies include a dive into psilocybin as a meditation enhancement, show evidence that psilocybin isn’t associated with paranoia risk, and proves that natural psilocybin has more therapeutic benefits in comparison to synthesized psilocybin.

Another psilocybin treatment center recently opened up in Oregon, called Ashland Healing Center, which is also the first black-owned treatment center. Additionally, the Oregon Health Authority approved another psilocybin license to Kaya Holdings Inc., for a business called The Sacred Mushroom, which plans to open sometime in June.