New study released today– John Hopkins and NYU Psilocybin reduces anxiety in cancer patients:
Two days ago – FDA agrees to New Trials of MDMA for Relief for PTSD patients:
My guess is treatment for many mental health dilemmas will include alternative hallucinogenics and empathogens in the near future. I am sure we will hear more as studies continue. Perhaps the legalization of recreational marijuana in eight states and medical marijuana in half the country is creating an atmosphere of leniency and more openness in the FDA and in the scientific community around how we may experiment with “illegal” substances and their potential benefits.
Some drugs, substances and chemicals have had beneficial effects on mental health for centuries, and pharmaceutical companies have either taken advantage of these compounds and made them into prescription drugs for the relief of symptoms or “cure” of illness, or the FDA has temporarily or permanently blocked their distribution, while they investigated and pursued their legitimacy and potential hazards. Big pharma and the FDA are at times at cross purposes. Pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to profit, as well as finding cures for disease and relief of symptoms. The FDA is looking for ways to make drugs safe and legal, and protect the consumer.
Trials of drugs create the potential for real relief for human subjects, while providing them with free or reduced cost drugs, and new treatments for mental health and physical diseases where up until now there may have been no cure. PTSD is right now a difficult to treat and at times intractable problem in this country. With the approval of MDMA trials by the FDA, more soldiers returning from battle at risk of depression, flashbacks, nightmares and even suicide may now be eligible for treatment that may really work.
Cancer patients who are experiencing high levels of anxiety, who are near death, have been in long term trials at John Hopkins and now at NYU, with the chemical, psilocybin, found in “magic mushrooms.” Researchers have found that the chemicals found in these natural substances can mimic a near death experience, and may actually bring comfort to a dying patient, and in smaller doses, reduce anxiety in patients with extreme forms of cancer.
More on the results of these studies when details are released.
Leave a Reply