Psychedelic drugs might help treat mental health disorders study says

published on September 8, 2015 by Stephen Quinn in CBC News

A new study suggests illicit drugs, such as magic mushrooms, have the potential to ease anxiety and PTSD

LSD, magic mushrooms and ecstasy are well known street drugs not usually associated with medical treatment.

But that could be changing.

In a new article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers examine the therapeutic effects of these substances on people with mental disorders, ranging from addiction to depression, anxiety and PTSD.

The research suggests some illegal drugs may have beneficial medical effects.

It was research that was pioneered in the 1950s and conducted through to the 70s, but eventually fizzled due to the condemnation of illegal substances and the subsequent war on drugs.

“As decades have worn on and we face continued challenges with mental health and limitations of the existing paradigm and existing treatments, it is reemerging as an area of clinical interest,” Dr. Evan Wood told CBC On the Coast’s Stephen Quinn.

Wood, a professor of medicine at UBC, is one of the study’s authors.

Although they are quick to acknowledge the small scale of some of these clinical trials, the study’s authors say the research is a stepping-stone to the possibilities offered by these substances in controlled settings.