Psychedelics – Medicine or Menace?
Psychedelics are hallucinogens that are able to alter
cognition and perception to create a heightened state of consciousness. Many
are not addictive and there is no evidence that suggests long term harm to
mental health. They have an effect on the body by acting on the neural circuits
in the brain that use the neurotransmitter serotonin. They effect areas in the
brain that are linked to emotions and perception (e.g. the prefrontal cortex)
A taboo among modern
society, psychedelic drugs have shown promise in the past at being able to
alleviate symptoms for many medical conditions. For example, MDMA (more
commonly known as ecstasy) floods the brain with serotonin which can
potentially be used for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In 2017
results were presented at a conference that 67% of people overcame their PTSD
with MDMA use. This was enough that the FDA allowed for further testing and
labelled MDMA a “breakthrough therapy”.
Another example is
Psilocybin which is the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms (magic
mushrooms). It has been tested on patients with long-term cancer and the
results showed that it was able to reduce anxiety and depression, for which 80%
of the patients felt it was effective in reducing symptoms continually. Since
2010, Carhart-Harris used functional magnetic resonance imaging’s (FMRI) to
investigate the effect psychedelic drugs have on the brain. Subsequent findings
indicated that psilocybin was able to stimulate activity in parts of the brain
synchronically rather than them acting independently.
In the 1950s
psychedelic drugs rose to prominence whilst they were being tested and so went
on to be prescribed to some people with mental illnesses. However, in the 1970s
they were banned in the US, Canada and Europe and research stalled as they were
degraded for being abused for recreational use and they were seen to have no significant
medical value. Research is only recently picking up and scientists are hoping
to prove drugs like MDMA and psilocybin can revolutionise mental healthcare.
As such, the
clinical trials must be strictly regulated to avoid potential abuse. The
patients being tested are screened for mental disorders, such as schizophrenia,
that prohibit psychedelic therapy. Those who are suitable undergo preliminary
sessions so they can learn about the drug and the trial they are participating
in as well as what they hope to achieve from it. During treatment the patients
are encouraged to go as “deep” into the experience as possible. They immerse
themselves in it and cut themselves off from the outside world by listening to
music through headphones with eyeshades on whilst lying down. When the test
ends and the drug wears off the patient and therapist discuss the experience
and have psychotherapy sessions to enable lasting results.
Research suggests
that the drugs work by acting on pathways of neurotransmitters that are tied
closely to addiction. There is also some evidence that the drugs can “reset”
brain functioning in small doses, in controlled environments.
However, there are
always risks with the use of any drugs. Sometimes people can have negative
effects in the form of a ‘bad trip’ which can involve symptoms such as
paranoia, anxiety and intense unnerving hallucinations. Any of these can lead
to dangerous behaviour that could end in injury. Some people can even
experience drug induced psychosis which can come from only one dose. One of the
common long term effects of hallucinogens are ‘flashbacks’ which is where the
person relives their experience of the drug and can cause severe feelings of
anxiety. The effect of the drug is also altered depending on the original
mental state of the individual.
Even so here have always
been many different uses for psychedelics in the past so we shouldn’t be so
closed up about the topic. Many hallucinogens play key roles in religion and
culture. For example, the hallucinogen Peyote is commonly used in Mexico for
medicinal and religious reasons. The US government tried to ban the use of it
between the 1880s and the 1930s but the Native American Church fought for it on
religious grounds so it is permitted for members of the NAC. Native American tribes
use the drug in healing ceremonies where there is a meeting that involves members
singing songs to drumming whilst consuming peyote around a fire. They all pray
for the member who is thought to be ill and it is believed the drug is able to
present to them the illness they have. They use peyote as a form of
self-diagnosis as well as for other medicinal uses such as a form of “aspirin”.
The use of
psychedelic drugs in medicine will always be controversial, nonetheless testing
is ongoing and who knows what the results may bring to the future of medicine.
I hope you found this interesting and thank you for reading.
Written by Lizzie Nash
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