President Trump's nominee for surgeon general has recently written that untested psychedelic drugs could be considered for therapy, and suggested in a newsletter that using mushrooms helped her find love.

Dr. Casey Means suggests exploring therapy that uses psilocybin, which is interesting because, at the national level, psilocybin is against the law. It's classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it's seen as having no proven medical benefits 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 is responsible for giving Americans the most reliable scientific advice on improving their health and lowering their chances of getting sick or injured. In the past, Surgeons General have used their role to teach people about health issues like AIDS and preventing suicide. Notably, the 1964 warning from the Surgeon General about the risks of smoking played a key role in transforming public health in the United States.

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' selection continues a trend by Trump of choosing people who are famous, rather than those with strong policy experience. Trump said he picked Means only because Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested her, saying he didn't know her himself.

Means, a Stanford University graduate in both arts and medicine, started a medical training program in Oregon but didn't finish it. Her medical license is currently not active. When reached by phone, Means refused to give an official statement.

In her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” she suggested looking into psychedelics; this book was written with her brother, Calley Means, a businessman now advising on health matters in the Trump administration, who has stated he invested in drug companies that focus on psychedelics.

The book largely discusses metabolic health, or "good energy," as Casey Means puts it, and offers strategies for dealing with the stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that can negatively affect our metabolic health and overall well-being.

One approach could be "psilocybin-assisted therapy", which involves using the substance found in magic mushrooms. She explains her ideas on this in a detailed 750-word piece.

She wrote that if people feel drawn to it, they should consider well-planned psilocybin therapy, pointing to strong scientific research suggesting this type of treatment can be a very 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 dangers. Psilocybin can lead to hallucinations lasting for hours, which could be enjoyable or frightening. It has been investigated as a treatment for mental health issues and alcohol dependence when combined with therapy, but there's limited research on its effects in healthy individuals. Possible side effects include a faster heartbeat, feeling sick, and headaches. Using it without supervision can be risky, as hallucinations could cause 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 known as ecstasy, in assisting individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the Food and Drug Administration decided against approving MDMA as a PTSD treatment last year, following concerns from a panel of experts about weaknesses in the research and potential dangers.

In her book, Means calls psychedelics "plant medicine," recounting her first experience with mushrooms around January 1, 2021, driven by "an internal voice that whispered: it's time to prepare."

She wrote that she felt connected to all mothers and babies who came before her, as if part of an endless chain, adding that, in her experience, psilocybin could open up a new reality, free from the usual limits of her own thoughts, feelings, and past.

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

In a recent article discussing her ideal health policies for the White House, Means expressed her desire for healthier school meals, suggested warning labels on highly processed foods, and requested inquiries into vaccine safety, also highlighting the need to eliminate conflicts of interest. While she didn't directly mention psychedelics, she noted that researchers are less motivated to study "common, natural, and unpatentable 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 wrote that he first used psilocybin when he was facing difficulties, and that it was "the single most important experience" of his life, affecting him personally, professionally, and spiritually. In 2022, he stated that he had "sold all of my 401k" to invest in two companies working on the development and research of psychedelics. He did not reply to requests for comment.

Casey Means is still waiting for her confirmation hearing to be arranged. Trump nominated Means after concerns were voiced about the background of his initial choice for surgeon general, Janette Nesheiwat, who used to contribute to Fox News on medical matters. Nesheiwat's nomination was later cancelled.