The new person chosen by President Donald Trump for the job of surgeon general has written that people might want to think about using psychedelic drugs that haven't been fully tested as a treatment, and also suggested in a newsletter that using mushrooms helped her find someone to be in a relationship with.

Dr. Casey Means suggests thinking about psilocybin therapy with guidance, which is interesting because psilocybin is against federal law. It's a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it's seen as having no accepted medical use and a high risk of misuse. However, Oregon and Colorado have made psychedelic therapy legal, although some cities in Oregon have since banned it.

The Surgeon General is responsible for giving Americans the most reliable scientific advice on improving their health and avoiding diseases and injuries. Previous Surgeons General have used their position to inform the public about serious health issues, such as AIDS and suicide prevention. Notably, the 1964 Surgeon General's warning about the risks of smoking played a significant role in changing public health in the United States.

Some people, such as Dr. C. Everett Koop, who was a top health official under President Ronald Reagan, became famous and greatly influenced rules and plans. Others, however, were quickly forgotten.

Means' appointment fits a trend seen with Trump, where he picks people who are famous rather than those with strong policy experience. Trump said he chose Means only because the Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggested her, saying he didn't know her himself but trusted Kennedy's judgement.

Means, a Stanford University graduate in arts and medicine, started medical training in Oregon but didn't finish it. Her medical license is currently inactive. When contacted, Means refused to give an official statement.

In her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” she suggested considering psychedelics, a topic explored with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur now advising on health matters in the Trump administration, who has also mentioned investing in psychedelic drug companies.

The book largely discusses metabolic health, or "good energy," as Casey Means describes it. She proposes several methods to help people deal with and recover from the pressures, past hurts, and ways of thinking that hold them back and worsen their metabolic health and overall well-being.

One option is to think about therapy that uses psilocybin, a substance found in magic mushrooms. She explains her ideas on this in a detailed, 750-word piece.

She wrote that if you feel drawn to it, you might want to consider well-planned therapy using psilocybin. She added that solid research shows this type of therapy can be a deeply important experience for some, as it has been for her.

Although some studies suggest psychedelics might be helpful, it's not clear if the advantages are greater than the risks. Psilocybin can lead to hallucinations lasting for hours, which can be either enjoyable or frightening. It's been studied alongside therapy as a possible treatment for mental health issues and alcohol addiction, but there's limited research on its effects on healthy individuals. Possible side effects include a faster heart rate, feeling sick, and headaches. Using it without supervision could be risky, as hallucinations might cause someone to put themselves in dangerous situations.

Means noted that psilocybin and similar psychedelic drugs have been unfairly judged. She highlighted the potential of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, to assist individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the Food and Drug Administration recently decided against approving MDMA as a PTSD treatment, as advisors raised concerns about the research quality and potential dangers.

In her book, Means calls psychedelics "plant medicine," recounting her first experience with mushrooms around January 1, 2021, prompted by "an internal voice" that urged her to prepare.

She described feeling connected to a vast chain of mothers and children stretching back to the start of life. In her experience, she added, psilocybin could open "a path to another reality, one not limited by personal beliefs, emotions, or past experiences."

In a newsletter released in October, Means mentioned using psychedelics to help her "make space to find love" as she turned 35. She explained she had "plant medicine experiences with trusted guides" to prepare herself for a relationship, adding a mushroom emoji. However, she clarified that she wasn't suggesting others should do the same.

In a recent article discussing her ideal health policies, Means expressed her desire for healthier school meals, suggested labels to warn about highly processed foods, and requested investigations into vaccine safety and the removal of conflicts of interest. While she didn't mention psychedelics directly, she noted that researchers are less motivated to study "common, natural, and unpatentable drugs and therapies," and argued that some research funding should support alternative health approaches.

Calley Means has also promoted the use of psychedelic drugs. In a 2021 blog post, he explained that his first experience with psilocybin helped him through a difficult period and described it as "the single most meaningful experience" of his life, affecting him personally, professionally, and spiritually. In 2022, he stated he had invested his entire 401k retirement savings into stocks of two companies involved in the development and research of psychedelics. He did not reply to requests for comment.

Casey Means is waiting for her confirmation hearing to be arranged. She was selected by Trump after doubts were expressed about the experience of his original choice for surgeon general, Janette Nesheiwat, who used to contribute to Fox News as a medical expert. Nesheiwat's name was then removed from consideration.