Psychedelic drugs LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms can be used to treat mental illness

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Psychedelic substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy) and psilocybin
(magic mushrooms) have been reclassified to be used as treatment for several mental health disorders.

These hallucinogens have been put under the psychedelic drugs category for many years now. According to the Mirror, LSD and other psychedelic drugs have been banned in the US since it came to popularity in the 1950s to 1960s.

However, these mind-altering substances are being explored to create new therapies to treat anxiety, addiction, PTSD and other mental health disorders. The findings are published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

According to Evan Wood, lead author from University of British Columbia, the views on psychedelic drugs are changing as researchers are finding more evidence that it could help treat mental health conditions.

"The re-emerging paradigm of psychedelic medicine may open clinical and therapeutic doors long closed," Dr. Wood, according to the report by the outlet. "International drug control scheduling classifications and popular misconceptions about the relative risks and harms of psychedelic drugs make research involving humans difficult. However, continued medical research and scientific inquiry into psychedelic drugs may offer new ways to treat mental illness and addiction in patients who do not benefit from currently available treatments," said Wood. 

According to a report by the LA Times, the main reasons why psychedelic drugs are being put into consideration for potential therapeutic uses are cost and time constraints. The psychoactive drugs have been found to be a cheaper alternative to existing mental health treatments and the positive impacts have lasted longer.

In the report by Newsweek, a study by University of Arizona researchers found that psilocybin reduced obsessive-compulsive symptoms in OCD patients, while in healthy participants, it gave a long-term effect of improved moods. Some participants even went to say they experienced more compassion, sensitivity and tolerance. These changes have been confirmed by their family members, friends and workmates.

The report added that psilocybin has also been shown to treat anxiety in terminal cancer patients. LSD has also been found to permanently reduce anxiety in some patients. As for addiction, patients given psilocybin have been found to crave less alcohol or have given up smoking. The same could also be said for dimethyltryptamine which is found in a hallucinogenic Amazonia Ayahuasca brew which can also treat depression and anxiety. Wood adds that MDMA in ecstasy can help treat patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

However, the authors stated that their study results are only preliminary and that their study only encompasses a small part. More research and study needs to be done before finding out if there are any merits in clinical application. the researchers said via Eureka Alert.