In the rain-drenched mountains of Golden, Colorado, a new kind of treatment is taking shape for former athletes. Some of them have withstood years of head trauma that has left them with debilitating symptoms and desperate for relief. Now, a number of them are turning to psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms. The approach is unfolding in a state where the drug has been made legal for adults.
At the center of the effort is Daniel Carcillo, a two-time Stanley Cup champion. He is transforming a house in Golden into a psilocybin retreat for his company, Experience Onward. The plan is to use the property as a place where former athletes can come for treatment. It is there that he hopes to help others who have lived through the long-term effects of repeated blows to the head.
The project is possible in part because of Colorado's legal framework. In the state, the drug is legal for adults over the age of 21. That status has opened the door to supervised use of psilocybin in a structured setting. For Carcillo, it offers a path to building out his vision for the retreat.
Even so, the retreat is not yet fully cleared to operate. Carcillo is still waiting for final legal approval from the county and the state for his wellness retreat. Until that approval comes through, the facility in Golden remains a work in progress. The wait underscores how the practice is still navigating the rules around it.
One of those drawn to the treatment is Lance Palmer, a former MMA fighter and wrestler. He wants to see if the drug can dramatically improve his life after years of taking punishing blows to the head. Palmer is candid about his expectations, describing the treatment as one option among others. "I know it's not an end-all be-all, but it's another piece to the puzzle," he said.
For Palmer, the motivation is deeply personal and tied to his future. He spoke about being able to live a long, healthy life after combat sports. He also described wanting to see his children grow up and to be able to remember those moments. Those hopes are what led him to try the treatment for the first time.
Palmer's first session took place at the Numia Healing Center in Denver. There, his psilocybin ceremony was overseen by Carolina Correa, who holds a state license to administer the drug. Before the session, he went over a pre-written intention and a mantra reminding him why he was doing it. The dose itself was 30 milligrams, a large amount known as a hero dose, which he took in dried form and in capsules, washing it down with orange juice before lying down with an eye mask and headphones as sound bowls played.