Australia’s DMT debate could reboot psychedelic thinking
But America’s flirtation with DMT legalization has remained just that. Exceptions to the federal ban have been strictly localized, confined to a handful of churches in a handful of states. There has never been much of a political conversation about the so-called “God Drug.” The drug’s entry into the public discourse in Australia has provided a platform for open-minded researchers to speak up about DMT’s potential as a therapeutic drug.
“DMT should certainly not be in the same class as a drug like methamphetamine and heroin,” Caldecott told Australia’s SBS, an Australian national TV station. “[It’] could be argued, quite vigorously that it has potential through therapy to benefit and therefore doesn’t belong in that class.” Caldecott is referring to the small but slowly growing number of studies outlining the possible uses of ayahuasca in treating mental health disorders. One study, published this year in the journal Brain Research Bulletin by a team of Spanish researchers, provided preliminary evidence that DMT “shows promise as a therapeutic tool by enhancing self-acceptance and allowing safe exposure to emotional events.” In the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Brazilian researchers analyzing existing ayahuasca studies called the collective results “promising” for reducing dependence and substance abuse but called for more controlled studies to replicate the preliminary findings.
Original Article (Inverse):
Australia’s DMT debate could reboot psychedelic thinking
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