Whether it’s a sign of the times or just wanting to try something different, more people are seeking psychedelic therapy as an alternative treatment method to help with their mental health struggles. Psychedelic therapy is often chosen as a treatment method because it actually addresses a person’s issues head-on, rather than suppressing them.
Alongside therapy, mental health professionals may even give the patient a medication to induce a state of euphoria or calmness to make the therapy more effective. However, similar to other traditional treatment methods, psychedelic therapies have the potential to make someone better, or possibly, make them worse. So, it is wise for the patient to make sure they fully understand the risks involved with this treatment method before they do it.
The Early History of Psychedelic Drugs
The medicinal use of psychedelics has progressed through human history, starting with early civilizations, like the Aztecs. From there, psychedelics have spread throughout Western culture, mostly to help mental health patients.
In the 1950s, the first paper citing the therapeutic benefits of these drugs was published. Furthermore, the manufacturing of LSD and psilocybin would begin in 1960 and be used experimentally to aid people with their mental struggles.
Although these drugs were used for medicinal use, counterculture movements would seek these drugs as well. As a result of its use in these movements, then-President Richard Nixon banned psychedelics in 1970 as they contributed to criminality. Due to the bans, the research on psychedelics for therapeutic use ended for 30 years.
The Return of Psychedelic Drugs and Usage
New research on psychedelics started in 2000 when scientists at John Hopkins University secured the right to study them. Overall, these scientists studied these drugs’ effects on behavior and brain function, including memory and mood.
What’s more? John Hopkins opened a psychedelics research center in 2020 that other elite universities followed. As of now, researchers from these universities are studying the therapeutic benefits and risks of psychedelics on mental disorders and illnesses.
So far, the standard definition of what psychedelic therapy is in the United States doesn’t exist, but it is being discussed. However, it’s understood that the therapy doesn’t include unsupervised or unprescribed use of recreational drugs, regardless of legality.
What Research Says About Psychedelic Drugs
After conducting a workshop regarding the use of hallucinogens in healthcare, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) agreed that the drugs may affect people’s perception of their surroundings and themselves. Likewise, these drugs influence people’s moods, stress, memory, and even socialization.
In a study published by Frontiers in Psychiatry, it was stated that psychedelic therapy is a treatment method for mental health disorders. Specifically, this treatment allows patients in a clinical setting to receive a dose of a psychedelic drug during counseling sessions.
Worth noting is that these authors picked classic serotonergic psychedelics as their chosen drug. Mainly, their compounds can activate certain serotonin receptors in the brain that produce hallucinogenic effects while altering one’s sense of perception. These classic psychedelics refer to psychoactive drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca.
Conversely, non-classic psychedelics are derivative drugs that include MDMA and ketamine. Although they share the same effects as their classic counterparts, these drugs are considered non-classic as they share pathways in the brain. Unfortunately, many discussions regarding psychedelic therapy and medicine confuse these classic and non-classic drugs with each other. Mostly, people broadly refer to these drugs despite their differences.
What is Ketamine Therapy?
While ketamine therapy is a treatment method that can be done on its own, it’s often used alongside other psychotherapies and medications. Likewise, ketamine may be able to treat people who have a treatment-resistant form of depression.
For most people, anti-depressants either have a long wait time before they work or don’t work at all. However, ketamine works immediately to attack depression, with most people feeling its effects within hours, though eskatimine can work within minutes and may need repeated use to be effective. Lastly, for people struggling with Myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD), these drugs can help decrease their suicidal idealization.
Despite the benefits, a common side effect of ketamine treatment is that it elevates blood pressure. Because of this side-effect alone, medical clearance is needed before you can use this treatment method. While elevated blood pressure is a moderate and treatable side effect, the long-term use of ketamine is still being studied especially for those who are dependent.
How Drugs Get FDA-Approved?
Besides ketamine, other psychedelic drugs are still being studied for their effectiveness. However, MDMA or ecstasy may be the best possible drug treatment to use for PTSD as it has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression.
Even with people with comorbidities such as substance use disorders and childhood traumas, the drug is considered safe to use for treatment. Moreover, it’s believed that people may process their traumas more effectively using MDMA as they’ll feel less shame and self-hate.
Sadly, these drugs are still being tested, hence their lack of FDA approval to use them for PTSD treatment. In order to become FDA-approved, these psychedelics have to pass a rigorous test consisting of three phases that they have yet to pass.
Who Benefits From Psychedelic Therapy?
Smoking and drinking alcohol can be a struggle for most, with less than one in ten adults quitting each year. With psychedelic therapy, it allows the use of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, which may help with substance abuse issues. Indeed, psilocybin may be useful in treating addiction as it can strengthen the effectiveness of recovery programs and traditional psychotherapies to make certain behavior changes.
Not only can psychedelic therapy help with mental illness, but it can with physical illnesses as well. Many people who become severely ill can experience increased levels of stress because of their illnesses or inability to cope. Likewise, this stress can increase the risk of advancing their disease, or worse, death. Yet, psychedelic therapy can help these people as they’re facing their severe or terminal illnesses head-on by providing a psycho-spiritual experience to provide comfort and distraction.
Lastly, new research has shown that psychedelic therapy may help with eating disorders. Specifically, this therapy may be able to find the underlying cause behind their disorders such as anxiety or depression. Yet, despite its potential as a treatment method, research is still needed to be sure of its effectiveness. These studies would have to take weight and physical health into consideration to see if they play a role in the eating disorder’s development.
Psychedelic Therapies Potential Treatment for Mental Illness
Currently, most psychedelic thugs are still federally illegal outside of ketamine – though some states are looking to legalize psilocybin. So, if you or someone you know is looking for treatment for any mental illness or disorder, then you look into psychedelic therapies as a potential option. Just be aware, however, that this therapy isn’t a cure or has side effects.
Mental illness is still extremely complex as it affects people differently either subtly or severely, therefore you should always check with a mental health professional before you engage in any psychedelic therapy.
This article is intended simply to provide information. It is not intended to replace advice from a physician. Please speak to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
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