The Rise of Psychedelic Therapies | News on Drugs

The healing powers of psychedelics are transforming the world of mental health treatment. At the forefront of research is Professor David Nutt, whose team at Imperial College London is using magic mushrooms in clinical trials to treat depression – and getting incredible results.

Humans love drugs. Every culture in human history has looked for ways to alter its consciousness. So where does this desire come from? And why are some drugs legal and others illegal? What is it about some drugs that make governments declare war on them?

In News on Drugs, writer JS Rafaeli chats to fellow drug nerds about their studies to tackle some of the biggest questions in the crazy world of mind-altering substances.

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[DavisMicheal-jm]

I have been depressed for a long time, but after taking mushrooms few months ago, l feel much happier and highly motivated and my ADHD gone, lost a ton of anxiousness and had a few epiphanies about how I should live my life. I decided to buy an ounce for backup, but haven’t yet felt the need to take any more since then.

[george.beard]

DMT, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms are truly remarkable. A few years back, I was grappling with severe depression and mental health issues, and was diagnosed with BPD. It wasn't until a friend suggested psilocybin mushrooms that things began to change for me. It was a lifesaver, and I've been completely clean for 6 years now.

[i_read_bad_reviews]

I smoked cigarettes for 15+ years and smoked a pack a day for those last 5. I’ve been wanting to quit but never tried. One day I ate some shrooms and started laughing hysterically about how much it’s going to suck quitting. That night I quit cold turkey and never looked back. This was two years ago.

[elizabethwilliams]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[patriaciasmith]

Psilocybin containing mushrooms saved my life. The drastically reduced my benzodiazepine withdrawal allowing me to quite illicit pill addiction after three years of heavy daily use before it would had became medically dangerous to quit. It has also helped me survive depression.

[allanbeth]

When taken under supported conditions, psilocybin mushrooms can cause self-described spiritual experiences that generally result in positive changes in the person's attitude, mood and behavior.

[RogerStevens-hsju]

Psilocybin mushrooms have proven very effective in the treatment of various mental health issues. Helped me get out of years of depression and excessive alcohol use. My social anxiety is gone as well

[kayleelogan]

Very interesting that the US actually researched these types of things 50 years ago. You’re exactly right that we should be angry that was all squandered. Think of all the progress we could’ve made by now

[Haylalucilavasquez]

Psilocybin is an ancient and powerful medicine. It is amusing that “modern” medicine is only now trying to understand what Indigenous people have know for a millennia.

[geraldjoseph]

Mushrooms saved my life honestly. They helped me see the pure beauty in life, and made me realize how dumb it would be to take myself out.

[Angela-untx]

I grow my own...and it's changed my LIFE 🥰 Anxiety, depression and mania are under control and are decreasing! In one year, my life has done a 180°🥰

[UltraK]

Tripping on mushrooms and self reflecting during meditation while tripping was the best thing I've ever done for my mental health and the fun I've had during the leisure trips will never be forgotten. As someone with an anxiety disorder and being on the spectrum of autism, psychedelic medicine has blown the doors wide open and allowed me to overcome negative thought patterns that once plagued my brain constantly. I feel love and empathy even stronger than ever before but without resulting in so much sadness when things go wrong, I just overcome it and move on. I can now more deeply understand what it means to simply exist and observe the universe as it actually is without an overactive ego impeding my ability to do so. We have been robbed of countless years of potential progress but now is finally the time to wake up and acknowledge reality for what it really is, no matter the situation.

[cannabiscraftsman]

im hyped that psychedelics are becoming accepted and actually studied nowadays.

[drowningfun]

I can personally attest to this. Every time ive ever ate a dose of mushrooms I've always lost the ego wall once I peak and feel as though I can truly 'see' things for the first times. All the stuff I refuse to confront, hard facts just hit you. I cannot imagine how therapeutic it would be too have a good therapist guiding you through it. that would be sickk.

[Bettinasisrg]

And thousands of people who never hurt anyone whose lives were ruined by being caught with these drugs 100% agree!!!

[dearsirormadam]

The fact that we get free documentaries on YouTube by VICE News is truly a gift 👍 👍 👍

[donaldaustin]

Psilocybin containing mushrooms save my life. The drastically reduced my benzodiazepine withdrawal allowing me to quite illicit pill addiction after three years of heavy daily use before it would had became medically dangerous to quit

[pisoniedoardo]

I’ve been depressed for most of my life, because I was suffering from OCD, so after lots of research, I went to a psilocybin ceremony. And damn, those mushrooms changed everything, my brain is free right now. Absolutely the best experience ever!

[santialtamirano]

This is inspiring, I am 21 years old and the idea that psychedelics can heal our lack of consciousness is thrilling

[scarlettohara]

I had terrible anorexia that nearly killed me. During my treatment I had time with my friends and we took some mushrooms. I'm convinced that looking at myself in the mirror during my trip changed my own body image more than any other treatment. I desperately want this to become more mainstream treatment because of how much it helped me and I know I'm not the only one