Australia has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the world’s first country to legalize the utilization of psychedelics for the treatment of certain mental health conditions.
Psychiatrists with approval are now permitted to prescribe MDMA for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and magic mushrooms for certain forms of depression in Australia.
The groundbreaking decision has been widely praised by scientists and mental health experts as a transformative development.
Despite the positive reception from some, there are dissenting voices that caution against excessive enthusiasm, arguing that the decision has been rushed and should be approached with caution.
According to experts, there remains a potential risk of a “bad trip,” which refers to an adverse and uncomfortable experience that individuals may encounter while under the influence of these drugs.
Australian media reports indicate that the therapy comes with a significant price tag, with a single course potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars.
MDMA, commonly referred to as the party drug ecstasy, is a synthetic substance that functions as a hallucinogen. It heightens energy levels, enhances sensory perceptions, and distorts the user’s perception of time.
Magic mushrooms, which occur naturally, possess hallucinogenic properties attributed to the presence of the active compound psilocybin.
Australia holds the distinction of being the first country to regulate these drugs as medications, but clinical trials are also currently being conducted in the United States, Canada, and Israel.
Starting from 1 July, following the official implementation of new regulations in Australia, authorized psychiatrists are now able to prescribe MDMA for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Dr. Mike Musker, a mental health researcher at the University of South Australia, highlighted the importance of diligent monitoring in the use of psychedelics, emphasizing that it is not a matter of simply “taking a pill and moving on.”
Characterizing the development as a “game-changer,” Dr. Mike Musker informed AFP news agency that, for instance, in the case of MDMA, patients would typically undergo three treatments spread across a span of five to eight weeks. Each treatment would encompass approximately eight hours, during which the therapist would remain with the patient throughout the entire duration.
Dr. Musker advised patients to have realistic expectations and cautioned against expecting a miraculous cure. He emphasized the importance of exercising caution, noting instances where individuals have encountered challenging experiences, such as re-experiencing their trauma, during psychedelic therapy.
Expressing her perspective, Professor Susan Rossell, a cognitive neuropsychologist at Swinburne University in Melbourne, acknowledged the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. However, she also highlighted that the pace at which the move has been implemented is too rapid in her opinion.
“In comparison to interventions for other diseases like cardiovascular disease or cancer, the speed at which this drug has been brought to the market is unprecedented,” Professor Susan Rossell stated in an interview with AFP.
Professor Rossell, who is heading Australia’s largest study on the impact of psilocybin on depression, emphasized the need for further research to ascertain the long-term outcomes of this therapy.
Source : bbc.com
