Science

Reductions in experiential avoidance play a key role in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy, study finds

July 16, 2023By

A new study indicates that reductions in experiential avoidance play a significant role in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy among depressed patients, leading to improvements in well-being and reductions in depression severity, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, highlight the importance of experiential avoidance as a potential mechanism…

READ MORE
Politics

House… psychedelics for military trauma… Crenshaw-AOC partnership

July 15, 2023By

 The US House Representatives… approve[d] mood-altering drugs to treat combat-related brain maladies, capping years of effort by an ex-Navy SEAL from Texas and a New York democratic socialist. The amendments… were added to the annual National Defense Authorization Act… The duo has fought to get Congress to direct Pentagon studies of psilocybin to treat traumatic…

READ MORE
Politics

FDA issues first draft guidance on clinical trials with psychedelic drugs

July 13, 2023By

The purpose of the draft guidance is to advise researchers on study design and other considerations as they develop medications that contain psychedelics. Within the draft guidance, the term psychedelics refers to “classic psychedelics,” typically understood to be drugs such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) that act on the brain’s serotonin system, as…

READ MORE
Politics

Berkeley says ‘yes’ to psychedelics…

July 13, 2023By

“Berkeley is joining a lot of municipalities and states that have decriminalized or… de-prioritized the enforcement of laws against certain plant-based psychedelics,” author Michael Pollan said. On de-prioritizing the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties for entheogenic/psychedelic plants and fungi and their bio-synthesized compounds for personal use… the council’s resolution, however, does not include psychedelics…

READ MORE
Politics

Massachusetts [psilocybin home grow at risk]…

July 11, 2023By

H3589 – An Act concerning the legalization of certain natural plants and fungi – Rep. Nick Boldyga & H1754/S1009 – An Act relative to plant medicine – Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa / Sen. Patricia Jehlen …would legalize plant medicines for those 21 years of age and older, while the other two bills would legalize plant medicines for those…

READ MORE
Politics

Berlin, Germany, introduces free and anonymous drug testing

July 11, 2023By

People will get the results back on their drugs three days after submission, with the results sent over to the appropriate counselling centre. Berlin, Germany, has officially launched a legal drug testing scheme, allowing people to anonymously get drugs tested for free. The Senate Department for Health announced the new scheme, named Drug Checking, which carried out…

READ MORE
Politics

Psilocybin-assisted therapy may provide more cost-effective solution to treating major depression disorder

July 11, 2023By

Psilocybin-based treatment was also found to provide stronger returns in terms of the quality of life of patients following treatment, with psilocybin’s treatment returning a QALY nearly 10% larger than the next most effective treatment, CBT. “We’re calling on health professionals and policymakers to seriously consider these findings which suggest psilocybin could be genuinely ground-breaking…

READ MORE
Politics

Backers of legalizing psilocybin weigh referendum

July 11, 2023By

A national drug policy group [New Approach PAC] that helped legalize… psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado is now eyeing the Massachusetts ballot with a proposal that would ask voters to authorize the so-called “magic mushrooms” for mental health therapies… On Beacon Hill [Massachusetts], state lawmakers are considering several legislative proposals that call for legalizing psilocybin……

READ MORE
Politics

Magic mushroom shops…

July 11, 2023By

There are at least four in-person businesses in Ottawa where the public can purchase magic mushrooms or other products – gummies, teas or chocolates – that contain psilocybin, the… ingredient in mushrooms. The first bricks-and-mortar shop in Ottawa — and Ontario — was The Golden Teacher, on Dalhousie Street, which opened a year and a…

READ MORE