The war on drugs may have misrepresented psychedelics; here’s why that matters
“Even Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), tried LSD after creating AA and found the drug to be revolutionary in the treatment of addiction as well as depression. Wilson actually pitched the addition of LSD to the 12-step program to the AA board, which rejected the idea.”
Independent and small-scale research studies, however, have demonstrated that psychedelics can effectively treat mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Moreover, the research often indicates that psychedelics can be even more effective than the medicines that are currently prescribed. For example, typical treatments for depression have been shown to fail in some instances among patients; but with psychedelics, they’ll respond well. In a study currently being conducted by the Beckley Foundation, 12 people with treatment-resistant depression were relieved from their symptoms for months after receiving just a single dose of psilocybin. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines, the most common medications used to treat mental disorders, must also be taken daily, and often over the course of a lifetime. Psychedelics, on the other hand, make long-lasting, positive changes in the brain after as little as one dose. In 2011, Johns Hopkins University discovered that a single dose of psilocybin could make people more open-minded for up to a year. And in April, research directed by the Beckley Foundation found that LSD creates more flexible patterns of thinking by increasing the communication between different brain networks.
Original Article (Medical Daily):
The War on Drugs May Have Misrepresented Psychedelics; Here’s Why That Matters
Artwork Fair Use: Tangs Book Club (Reproduced under 1976 Copyright)
