-Ryan He
Psychedelics have a reputation for being a recreational drug, but it is so much more than that. By branding as a recreational drug, it undermines the other great potentials that psychedelics have. People need to realize that the schedule I (drugs that have a high chance of being abused and have no medical use) status of common psychedelics such as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, aka acid), marijuana and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, aka ecstasy), does not mean those drugs can not be used for other purposes besides recreational. Many small clinical studies have shown that when used in the right way, psychedelics can be of extreme therapeutic value. Psychedelic assisted treatment has shown the capability to stop addiction and or abuse of substances, treat PTSD, anxiety, lower suicidal behavior and thinking, etc. A study done by a New Mexico team that tested psilocybin’s ability to treat alcohol dependence found the participants’ heavy drinking days were cut in half. In a pilot study done in 2011that tested the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in treating PTSD, the results showed that the participants showed a significant decrease in symptoms. To say that psychedelics have no place in the medical world without considering the available information that shows the therapeutic potential of psychedelics is absolutely preposterous. For people who are not seeing the results they want from current treatment options, psychedelic-assisted treatment can be the answer.
