Oregon Launches First Psilocybin Service Center in the Nation, Thousands on Waitlist

In November 2020, Oregon became the first state in the country to legalize the facilitated use of psilocybin under Measure 109, but it wasn’t until June of this year that the first licensed psilocybin service center opened up to the public. Since then, thousands of people have been lining up on the waitlist to experience a professionally facilitated magic mushroom trip. 

America’s first licensed psilocybin services center

Eugene Psychedelic Integrative Center (EPIC Healing Eugene) isn’t only the first psilocybin facility in Oregon but the first in the entire nation. The company prioritizes “deep healing work, mindfulness, empowerment, spirituality, and transformation through psilocybin facilitation and integration.”

 Personalized services are done in a specialized setting for individuals, couples, and even small groups. EPIC Healing Eugene is partnered with their sister company, Radiant Heart Consulting, which contracts the facility’s licensed facilitators. Although EPIC’s staff have educational background in mental health care and medical degrees, their primary goal is to provide a safe space for healing and transformation. 

They believe “Each person’s inner intelligence is considered the primary guide for healing, along with the inner-wisdom promoting action of the psilocybin. We help with facilitating that connection and provide a safe space and the support for taking the time to go deep within.”

Because of early media attention, EPIC already has over 3,000 people on their waitlist – most of whom are seeking treatment for their mental health conditions like anxiety, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and end-of-life dread. 

How the service works

Anyone interested in receiving services must apply to a waitlist and will be followed up with a free 15-minute consultation to see if the psilocybin journey is right for them or if waiting for another time might be in their best interest. Together, they will review the client’s medical history to see if they qualify. Depending on the client’s background, the facilitator has the right to deny services due to risk factors like thoughts of harming anyone or active psychosis. The highly prioritized safety standards of facilitation centers will prevent psilocybin services from being administered to those who may not respond well to treatment.

Before treatment, clients must meet with their facilitator for a two-hour-long preparation session. A supportive facilitator will explain the procedure and what to expect during a trip, then help set the client’s intentions and create a safe space for a comfortable session. EPIC facilitators offer various self-help strategies for clients to prepare for their experience and gain the most out of it. 

During the actual session, the facilitator will remain with the client for the entire session. Clients are not allowed to buy mushrooms and bring them home. The service is to be strictly done on premises with supervision by a well-trained professional. Clients cannot leave the service until after the effects of psilocybin have completely worn off, making the appointment last around six hours. Some clients may benefit from multiple administration sessions.

Facilitators must follow up with clients within 72 hours of the administration sessions for an integration session. This form of session is a major component in the process, allowing clients to make meaning out of their session and bring those lessons back into their daily lives. The healing process may continue to unfold months after the session since psilocybin’s neurogenesis process lasts longer than the actual experience. Clients can schedule more integration sessions, if needed, to process and make meaning out of their psilocybin experience. 

Anyone aged 21 and up can access licensed services like EPIC without a prescription or referral. 

The future of facilitated psilocybin services

So far, there are ten licensed psilocybin service centers in Oregon, along with three regulated manufacturers, two testing labs, and several trained facilitators. Omnia Group Ashland, located in southern Oregon, has recently opened and already has 150 clients on their list. Another center, Lucid Cradle, located in Bend, Oregon, plans to see only one client per week to give them closer attention. They are already booked through December. Though the wait time for these centers is long, the state plans on issuing more licenses in the months ahead.

The prices for psilocybin services right now are high, and clients can expect to pay over $2,000 per session in some cases. However, as the industry expands, the cost is expected to lower. Currently, the service is not covered by health insurance, but as soon as psilocybin therapy becomes FDA-approved, health insurance benefit providers like Enthea may soon help cover the cost. Every licensee in Oregon is required to make efforts towards social equity goals, and some centers, such as EPIC, already offer sliding scale models.

Oregon Psilocybin Services, the Health Authority Section responsible for regulating the state’s facilitated psilocybin industry, has gotten “hundreds of thousands of inquiries from all over the world,” according to Angela Albee, the section’s manager. 

Oregon is the only state with active facilitated psilocybin centers, but Colorado plans to begin accepting license applications in September of next year. First, the state must establish rules for facilitators’ educational standards and qualification requirements. As a result, psilocybin therapy is unlikely to be available in Colorado until at least 2025.

Other states have been following suit, such as California, which may pass similar legislation that decriminalizes natural psychedelics and plans to develop therapeutic use guidelines.

Psilocybin has shown promise in several clinical trials for its therapeutic potential to treat various mental health conditions. The treatment option could be revolutionary for those who have not seen relief from traditional medication and therapy. 

“This can be a life-changing opportunity for many people’s health and well-being,” said Angela Allbee, Manager of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section at Oregon Health Authority. “So far, what we’re hearing is that clients have had positive experiences.”