President Trump's nominee for surgeon general has recently written that people might think about using experimental psychedelic drugs for treatment. She also suggested in a newsletter that using mushrooms helped her find love.

Dr. Casey Means suggests thinking about therapy that uses psilocybin with guidance, which is interesting because it's against federal law. Psilocybin is 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 prohibited it.

The Surgeon General's role is to give Americans the most reliable scientific information on improving their health and lowering their chances of getting sick or injured. In the past, Surgeons General have used their position to teach people about health issues like AIDS and preventing suicide. The 1964 Surgeon General's warning about the risks of smoking played a key role in changing America's health for the better.

Some individuals, such as Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served as Surgeon General under President Ronald Reagan, gained significant recognition and greatly influenced policy, while others were quickly forgotten.

Means' appointment fits a trend under Trump, where well-known figures are picked over policy experts. Trump admitted he chose Means based only on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recommendation, saying he didn't know her personally but trusted Kennedy's judgement.

Means, a Stanford University graduate in both arts and medicine, started a medical training program in Oregon but left before finishing. Her medical license is currently not active. When contacted, Means chose not to give an official statement.

In her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” she suggested using psychedelics, a recommendation she co-wrote with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now advises the Trump administration on health matters and has admitted to investing in biopharmaceutical companies focused on psychedelics.

The book largely explores metabolic health, or what Casey Means terms "good energy," and offers strategies for managing stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that can negatively affect our metabolic health and overall well-being.

One approach she suggests is "psilocybin-assisted therapy," referring to the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. She explains her reasoning on this topic in a detailed 750-word piece.

"If you feel drawn to it, I suggest looking into guided psilocybin therapy," she wrote. "Research shows this type of therapy can be a very important experience for some, as it has been for me."

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

Means stated that psilocybin and similar psychedelic drugs have been unfairly judged. She highlighted the advantages of MDMA, also called ecstasy, in assisting individuals dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the Food and Drug Administration refused to approve MDMA as a PTSD treatment last year, as a group of experts believed the research had weaknesses and the drug carried considerable risks.

In her book, Means calls psychedelics "plant medicine," recounting her first experience with mushrooms around January 1, 2021, prompted by "an internal voice" telling her it was time to get ready.

She expressed feeling connected to a vast, continuous line of mothers and children throughout history. She also wrote that, in her experience, psilocybin could open a path to an altered reality, one not restricted by her ego, emotions, or personal past.

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

In a recent article outlining her desired changes to White House health policy, Means expressed her wish for better school meals, suggested warning labels on highly processed foods, and demanded investigations into vaccine safety, also highlighting the need to eliminate conflicts of interest. While she didn't mention psychedelics directly, she noted that researchers lack motivation to study "generic, natural, and non-patentable drugs and therapies," and proposed allocating some research funds to alternative health approaches.

Calley Means has also supported the use of psychedelic drugs. In a 2021 blog post, he described his first experience with psilocybin during a difficult period, calling it "the single most meaningful experience of my life" on a personal, professional, and spiritual level. In 2022, he stated that he had "sold all of my 401k" to invest in two companies focused on psychedelic drug development and research. 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 concerns 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 nomination was later cancelled.