New studies find that psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and LSD may be useful to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Research is continuing by government organizations and pharmaceutical companies and startups, hoping to gather enough evidence to support FDA approval and more widespread clinical applications. But even if the drugs are sanctioned, they will likely be used only by a select few, as treatments are expected to be expensive and both physically and emotionally taxing, involving full-day, intensive trips, and not recommended for those with a history of schizophrenia or underlying psychosis. But, many in the field are wondering, what if we could harness the potential healing powers of such drugs but without the hallucinations? Now, scientists are working to develop molecules based on psychedelics that provide the therapeutic benefits but without the trip experience. This is based on the idea that what gives the psychedelics their healing benefit is not the trip itself but the effect on the brain, which may have anti-depressant properties. Some are skeptical of this hypothesis, but others argue that the pursuit of an answer to how psychedelics treat depression brings us a step closer to understanding not only how to relieve the symptoms of mental illness, but also potentially how to remove them.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies