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Kayleigh Canavan

Mrs. Philips

AP Language and Composition

30 March 2020

Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment

Worldwide, upwards of 300 million people suffer from depression (Palhano-Forntes, et

al.). For centuries, scientists and doctors have been searching for a cure to problems such as

these that plague ordinary people. Simultaneously, psychedelics “have been used for hundreds if

not thousands of years for holistic healing” and have displayed potential in the scientific field

since the 1960s (Carhart-Harris, et al.). In an unlikely turn of events, psychedelics might be a

treatment that significantly changes the world of mental health treatment. In the 1960s, before a

ban was placed on psychedelic research, Dr. Stanley Yolles of Spring Grove Mental Health

Facility noted that psychedelic treatment showed promise. Soon after research had begun, the

counterculture movement adopted the use of psychedelics causing them to be demonized in the

media, effectively ending research. New research reveals exactly what scientists began to

discover in the 1960s; psychedelics hold the power to heal. Psychedelics should be legalized for

mental health treatment because they are a safe option, a non-addictive alternative, and an

effective choice.

Opponents to the use of psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment argue that

psychedelics are ineffective, addictive, and dangerous. The primary concern relating to

psychedelic treatment is that this new treatment will not be successful for treating patients.

Traditional medicine that is currently treating mental illness will most likely not be replaced by
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the option of psychedelics. The questionable effectiveness of psychedelics pales in comparison

with effective, traditional medication. Another concern is the possibility of addiction or

dependence upon psychedelic drugs that would be used for treatment. Long term effects of

psychedelics have not been studied in depth due to the governmental ban placed on them in the

1960s, therefore knowledge about how addictive psychedelics can be with repeated use is

understudied. Finally, psychedelics are dangerous, not only to the individual, but civilians.

Patients present a risk to society if they were to be 'tripping' on psychedelics and go out in public

with an altered reality and impaired judgement​.​ In addition, psychedelic treatment could

negatively impact future generations if a parent’s sex cells - sperm or egg - were influenced or

changed during treatment using psychedelics.

Despite misconceptions, psychedelics are a safe option for the treatment of mental

illnesses and mental disorders. Studies using psychedelic drugs as treatment have no fatalities

and the participants remain safe throughout the whole experience, displaying the inherent safety

of such treatment. According to the​ Psychedelic Times,​ “there appear to be no documented case

studies of fatalities as a result of overdosing on magic mushrooms alone” (Editorial Staff).

‘Magic mushrooms’, a source of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, are safe for use with no

reported deaths when used alone - and not in combination with other drugs or alcohol. Another

study comments on the psychedelic ayahuasca: “for instance, ayahuasca is not addictive and has

not been associated with psychopathological, personality, or cognitive deterioration, and it

promotes only moderate sympathomimetic effects” (Palhano-Fontes). The sympathomimetic

effects are what people refer to as a ‘trip,’ while the lack of psychopathological, personality, and

cognitive deterioration refers to the way psychedelics do not harm the brain or personality.
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Contrary to misconceptions that became popular during the counterculture movement of the

1950s and 1960s, psychedelics do not negatively impact future generations. The documentary

series ​The Mind, Explained​, states that there is no evidence to support chromosome damage,

birth defects, fatal accidents, suicide, or psychosis as many people claimed, especially after the

release of educational and govermental films warning about the dangers of psychedelic use.

There are minimal safety concerns regarding psychedelics, especially in controlled environments

or under a scientist’s supervision. Roland Griffiths, a professor at Johns Hopkins University

states “The risks certainly were well overblown, but the risks aren't zero” when referring to the

media demonization of psychedelics in the mid 1900s (Psychedelics). He explains that most risks

involving psychedelics revolve around street drugs and the opportunity for them to be laced.

However, if psychedelics were legalized for mental health treatment, they would not be laced,

virtually eliminating all risks. The lack of risks, safety during case trials, and the lack of fatalities

associated directly with psychedelics prove their overall safety as a treatment for mental health

disorders.

Next, psychedelics provide a non-addictive alternative to current and traditional

treatments and medications for mental illnesses. Some current, traditional medications for mental

illnesses can easily become addictive and have a high potential for abuse (NIDA). Foundations

Recovery Network’s article entitled “Becoming Addicted to Your Treatment Medication” noted

that “Some of the drugs used to relieve anxiety, panic attacks, behavioral disorders and other

conditions can cause physical or psychological dependence.” Current medications for some

mental health issues have a high likelihood of being abused and causing a dependence upon

them. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse “about half of those who experience a
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mental illness during their lives will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa.”

The probability of having a mental illness and a drug abuse disorder is extremely high; this

coupled with the addictiveness of current mental health medications leads to a complication that

must be addressed. The solution to this problem of addictive medications is psychedelics, which

are medically considered non-addictive. Psychedelics that are most commonly used for

treatments of mental illnesses have also been found to be non-addictive; “Psychedelics drugs,

including ayahuasca, psilocybin, and LSD, are generally not considered to be addictive in the

medical sense. That is, though they influence the mind directly, they don’t alter the chemistry of

the brain” (Psychedelic Times Staff). For example, when a smoker finishes their cigarette, their

brain momentarily stops craving nicotine, but slowly the craving arises again and before long,

they are smoking their next cigarette. That is the nature of addiction; however, in striking

contrast, psychedelics do not have this chemical effect on the brain; rather, they have quite the

opposite effect, allowing people to overcome addiction instead of causing it (Psychedelic Times

Staff). Finally, psychedelic treatment experiments occuring now only use a single dosing session,

meaning patients would only have to take the drug once, instead of repeatedly like current

medications. The aforementioned ayahuasca study was a single dosing study that still found

“evidence of rapid antidepressant effect[s]” (Palhano-Fontes, et al.). Needing to only use a drug

once to see beneficial effects will completely redevelop the way mental illnesses are treated. The

single dose needed to obtain results coupled with the supervision of patients during these studies

and during treatment, significantly minimizes all risks of addiction. Psychedelics provide a

non-addictive alternative to traditional medications and treatments.

Most importantly, the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, and LSD for

mental health treatment has been proven effective. A common psychedelic used for mental

health treatment is psilocybin, which is found in ‘magic mushrooms’. Known as psilocybe

cubensis, psilocybin is useful in treating obsessive compulsive disorder, end of life distress for

cancer patients, depression, tobacco addiction, and alcohol addiction (Carhart-Harris, et al). For

those with life-threatening cancer, psilocybin can help reduce stress and anxiety (Luna).

Octavian Minai, a former cancer patient who survived but was left with major anxiety about

death, provided a personal testimony saying that psilocybin “Changed everything in [his] life”

and significantly minimized his anxiety (Psychedelics). Another such psychedelic that has shown

promise during experimental trials for helping treat mental illness is ayahuasca. One such

experimental trial found “evidence of rapid antidepressant effect after a single dosing session

with ayahuasca when compared with a placebo” (Palnano-Fontes et al). The study discovered

that ayahuasca proved an effective treatment for depression when compared with a placebo, a

medication that is similar in appearance but produces no physiological effects. Another benefit

scientists have discovered using ayahuasca is that “ayahuasca may help alleviate depression and

addiction, as well as assist people in coping with trauma” (Luna). Treatment of trauma along

with the treatment of addiction can help improve the quality of life, and psychedelics show

promise in treating these such things. The final psychedelic that shows potential in treatment of

mental illness is LSD. Known by its scientific name, lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD is a drug

that can be harnessed for mental health treatment due to its structure; the structure of LSD,

psilocybin, and ayahuasca are similar to the structure of serotonin, the happiness hormone. These

psychedelics bind to serotonin receptors inside the brain and produce similar responses to that of
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serotonin, helping treat mental illnesses (Psychedelics). Initial trials with LSD began in the

1970s and showed promise; however, many trials were quickly shut down due to a governmental

ban placed on them in reaction to their relation to the counterculture movement of the time

(Psychedelics). In addition to certain psychedelics being used to treat a multitude of mental

illnesses, psychedelics can help treat a very important illness: addiction. Psilocybin is the most

common psychedelic for treating addiction and can be used for both alcohol and tobacco

addiction (Carhart-Harris et al). John Hopkins researcher Mary Cosimano notes that the

outcomes of treatment using psychedelics depends on the intentionality of the person taking the

psychedelics and how well they are guided through the experience (Psychedelics). Psychedelics

allow people to overcome addiction by “let[ting] a person break down their reality tunnels and

take back control over their brain” (Psychedelic Times Staff). ​The Mind, Explained ​describes the

use of psychedelics as a fresh snow, allowing ingrained patterns on the brain to be reformed,

giving people the ability to overcome addictions. Psilocybin, ayahuasca, and LSD are the main

focuses of psychedelic treatment as they have provided the most effective outcome for addiction,

along with a multitude of other mental illnesses. Multiple studies have demonstrated the

effectiveness of psychedelics in the treatment of numerous mental illnesses.

Therefore, psychedelics should be legalized for mental health treatment because they are

safe, non-addictive, and effective. In a new way, psychedelics have the power to help millions of

people who suffer from mental illness. Medical grade psychedelics are the future of mental

health treatment and are changing the way in which mental illness will be cared for. The way in

which society views mental health treatment is changing for the better, and more people than

ever have the resources to seek help if they need it. While common misconceptions perpetuated
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during the 1960s and today have halted research, psychedelics have proven to be the future, and

the hope, for mental health treatment.

Works Cited

“Becoming Addicted to Your Treatment Medication.” ​Dual Diagnostics​, Foundations Recovery

Network, 2020, dualdiagnostics.org/drug-addiction/addicted-to-treatment-medication/.

Carhart-Harris, R., Goodwin, G. “The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present,

and Future.” ​Neuropsychopharmacol​ 42, 2105–2113 (2017).

https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.84

Editorial Staff. “Effects of Peyote, Mushrooms and Psychedelics: What You Need to Know.”

American Addiction Centers,​ 3 Feb. 2020, americanaddictioncenters.org/psychedelics

Luna, Kaitlin. “Can Psychedelic Drugs Heal?” ​American Psychological Association​, American

Psychological Association, 9 Aug. 2018,

www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/08/psychedelic-drugs-heal​.

NIDA. “Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders.” ​National Institute on Drug

Abuse,​ 27 Feb. 2018,

drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disor

ders.

Palhano-Fontes, Fernanda, et al. “Rapid Antidepressant Effects of the Psychedelic Ayahuasca in

Treatment-Resistant Depression: a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.” ​Psychological

Medicine​, vol. 49, no. 4, 2019, pp. 655–663., doi:10.1017/S0033291718001356.

“Psychedelics” ​The Mind, Explained.​ Prod. Marie Cascione, et al. Netflix, 2019. Netflix.

Psychedelic Times Staff. “Are Psychedelics Addictive?” Psychedelic Times, 7 June 2018,

psychedelictimes.com/are-psychedelics-addictive.