Building Oregon’s psilocybin therapy program

The groundbreaking Oregon Model offers new hope

By Sam Chapman, executive director

Last year, Oregon voters approved the first psilocybin therapy program in the country because they understood the need for new tools to address mental health and wellness in our communities. This groundbreaking program is set to launch in 2023.

The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board are currently in the rulemaking process. They are designing training guidelines and licensing requirements for facilitators, and working hard to ensure that anyone who stands to benefit from psilocybin services has safe and equitable access. 

The Oregon model centers safety and community by delivering psilocybin services in a four-step process designed to provide participants with a framework for healing.

Oregon, like the rest of the country, has a tremendous need for mental health services. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQIA communities, and others are often underserved by or excluded from existing mental health resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has created even more demand on an already stressed system, and we know that veterans, people in hospice or palliative care, and those experiencing substance use disorder or severe anxiety and depression also experience unique barriers in accessing meaningful mental health services. 

Oregon’s psilocybin therapy program offers new hope. Research continues to show that psilocybin therapy can have profound impacts on people who are struggling to heal from depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. We remain committed to ensuring that the program is thoughtfully implemented so it is well regulated, equitable, and accessible for those in need.