Psychedelics Are Edging Towards Mainstream Therapy

Written by Luke Argue

Psychedelics are typically seen as illicit substances causing people to ruin their lives or engage in illicit behaviors. However, we often forget that psychedelics were once viewed as the future of psychiatric therapy; that is, before they were banned.

Not everyone has forgotten about the power psychedelics hold. As a result, several researchers have renewed the push to utilize psychedelics to assist therapy. For the first time in a while, they are slowly edging towards mainstream therapy.

What Is Psychedelic Assisted Therapy?

Psychedelics are not in and of themselves a form of therapy. However, they can be effective when combined with psychiatric therapy in what scientists call psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAP). PAP uses a variety of psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), Ketamine and MDMA (Ecstasy). These drugs induce psychedelic experiences that help the patient confront their psychological illness.

Such treatments can take various forms, depending on the psychedelic used and the therapist, but is often a therapist-administered, low or moderate dose of the psychedelic supervised and debriefed by the therapist. After receiving their psychedelic experience, therapists can help them experience closure or relief from their illnesses by working with patients.

Psychedelic Uses

Many psychedelics create sensations of relief, well-being, social connectedness and introspection by affecting the brain’s serotonin receptors that control your mood. Consequently, these psychedelics can be used to treat various mental illnesses that affect your mood. There are many applications of such psychedelic therapy, but major examples include addiction, anxiety and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), to name a few. The psychedelic helps the mind and brain deal with the illness’ neurological and psychological effects.

Effectiveness

These treatments are effective in more than just the theoretical sense. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that these psychedelics can dramatically benefit those suffering from one of the aforementioned illnesses. Two separate studies on terminally ill patients confirmed that psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin significantly improved mood, removed nervousness and lowered anxiety without significant side effects. Researchers also found that psilocybin and ayahuasca (another psychedelic historically used by Amazonian tribal people) could positively impact those suffering from cigarette addiction.

Research around MDMA and PTSD has shown tremendous success. MDMA given to those who have PTSD significantly reduces the patient’s illness. According to a study of 90 participants, 67% no longer qualify for a PTSD diagnosis after receiving three MDMA-assisted therapy, and 88% experienced reduced PTSD symptoms. Because of this success, MDMA is on track for FDA approval as a PTSD treatment by 2023.

What Barriers Keep Psychedelics Out of Mainstream Therapy

With all this success, it’s hard to imagine why psychedelics aren’t already accepted within mainline therapy. However, it’s important to remember that these substances are often illegal and, thus, are carefully controlled.

It’s true that some psychedelic therapies, such as psilocybin, have been legalized. Nevertheless, the Controlled Substances Act passed during the Nixon administration outlaws many psychedelics used for clinical research on psychedelic therapy. Such bans naturally slow the research of these substances since researchers have to receive special approval to perform their research. This intricate process prevents psychedelics from easily entering mainstream therapy as they have additional legal processes to follow.

Another large barrier for psychedelics is the potential side effects of some psychedelics used for treatment. While these drugs can have many benefits, many are still addictive psychedelic substances that, if improperly used, can harm as much as they can help. Incorporating these into therapy carries risks of addiction, bad trips from improper mixing of the psychedelics and anxieties and fears, and even small personality changes in some extreme cases.

Most concerningly, professionals fear that people will turn to self-medication if these psychedelics become more widely accepted, using them, which carries more significant risks.

A Parting Reminder

Psychedelics are not unlike any experimental treatment or drug; they may undoubtedly carry risks but have too much promise to ignore. But for the first time in decades, serious clinical research is being done to cause psychedelics to edge toward mainstream therapy. This research shows that psychedelics may unlock an entirely new world of possibilities for psychiatric therapy of severe and common illnesses.

But psychedelics are not conventional antibiotics; they are addictive substances that can alter one’s perception of reality. As a result, efforts to push psychedelics into mainstream therapy will always need to be measured and cautious. Naturally, this will slow the entrance of such treatments into mainstream therapy. However, while its progress may be incremental, it is undeniable that psychedelics are a part of the future of mainstream psychiatric therapy.