Psychedelic Study Shows Positive Results

"Magic Mushrooms" Found To Have Lasting Effects On Self-Confidence and Optimism

(AP)  In 2002, at a Johns Hopkins University laboratory, a business consultant named Dede Osborn took a psychedelic drug as part of a research project.

She felt like she was taking off. She saw colors. Then it felt like her heart was ripping open.

But she called the experience joyful as well as painful, and says that it has helped her to this day.

"I feel more centered in who I am and what I'm doing," said Osborn, now 66, of Providence, R.I. "I don't seem to have those self-doubts like I used to have. I feel much more grounded (and feel that) we are all connected."

Scientists reported Tuesday that when they surveyed volunteers 14 months after they took the drug, most said they were still feeling and behaving better because of the experience.

Two-thirds of them also said the drug had produced one of the five most spiritually significant experiences they'd ever had.

The drug, psilocybin, is found in so-called "magic mushrooms." It's illegal, but it has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries.

The study involved 36 men and women during an eight-hour lab visit. It's one of the few such studies of a hallucinogen in the past 40 years, since research was largely shut down after widespread recreational abuse of such drugs in the 1960s.

The project made headlines in 2006 when researchers published their report on how the volunteers felt just two months after taking the drug. The new study followed them up a year after that.

Experts emphasize that people should not try psilocybin on their own because it could be harmful. Even in the controlled setting of the laboratory, nearly a third of participants felt significant fear under the effects of the drug. Without proper supervision, someone could be harmed, researchers said.

Osborn, in a telephone interview, recalled a powerful feeling of being out of control during her lab experience. "It was ... like taking off, I'm being lifted up," she said. Then came "brilliant colors and beautiful patterns, just stunningly gorgeous, more intense than normal reality."

And then, the sensation that her heart was tearing open.

"It would come in waves," she recalled. "I found myself doing Lamaze-type breathing as the pain came on."

Yet "it was a joyful, ecstatic thing at the same time, like the joy of being alive," she said. She compared it to birthing pains. "There was this sense of relief and joy and ecstasy when my heart was opened."

With further research, psilocybin (pronounced SILL-oh-SY-bin) may prove useful in helping to treat alcoholism and drug dependence, and in aiding seriously ill patients as they deal with psychological distress, said study lead author Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins.

Griffiths also said that despite the spiritual characteristics reported for the drug experiences, the study says nothing about whether God exists.

"Is this God in a pill? Absolutely not," he said.

The experiment was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The results were published online Tuesday by the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Fourteen months after taking the drug, 64 percent of the volunteers said they still felt at least a moderate increase in well-being or life satisfaction, in terms of things like feeling more creative, self-confident, flexible and optimistic. And 61 percent reported at least a moderate behavior change in what they considered positive ways.

That second question didn't ask for details, but elsewhere the questionnaire answers indicated lasting gains in traits like being more sensitive, tolerant, loving and compassionate.

Researchers didn't try to corroborate what the participants said about their own behavior. But in the earlier analysis at two months after the drug was given, researchers said family and friends backed up what those in the study said about behavior changes. Griffiths said he has no reason to doubt the answers at 14 months.

Dr. Charles Grob, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, called the new work an important follow-up to the first study.

He said it is helping to reopen formal study of psychedelic drugs. Grob is on the board of the Heffter Research Institute, which promotes studies of psychedelic substances and helped pay for the new work.

[shingles1]

No comments?

Come on, people!

[incog-nito]

All I can say is, everything about this study is true. That''s all I can say.

[smurfcrusher]

Pretty sad that some people need drugs to feel good or self-confident.

Try volunteering instead. Not only will you improve your confidence, but you''ll have the satisfaction of actually helping someone instead of short-circuiting your neurons.

[edward1975-2009]

So all that blotter acid I took as a teenager will finally benefit me. How cool

[xraytwonine]

who knows what kinda dope they were doing while they are off the trails

[arrestbush1]

"Pretty sad that some people need drugs to feel good or self-confident."


Only somebody who thinks that doesn''t know what their talking about. Smoking marijuana can help people connect with their true nature. Marijuana has been in use by man since 7000 B.C. and for the past 9000 years it has been legal until 1937. When looking at a timeline that goes 9000 years back, that makes 1937 look like yesterday. Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time it''s been in use by man. It''s never been a problem until the government tried to convince us it''s bad for you just so they can make money off busting people. They are the ones supplying weed in the USA like bait, then they let the fish catch it so they can catch them and profit off it.

[andor3]

sure all creatures, and especially humans seek and need altered states of consciousness.

expanded consciousness is dangerous... if people became more aware, they would actually reject war and competition and realize we are all here to take care of each other and each of us deserves a part of the Earth and its bounty.

[brianbwb-2009]

"So all that blotter acid I took as a teenager will finally benefit me. How cool" Posted by Edward1975

Remember the scare tactic called "Flashbacks"?

I''m still waiting for mine, the lying B*astards.

[sandy777-2009]

I experimented alot with acid and mesculine (sp?) back in the 1960s. It''s true to have a good trip, you do need to be in a positive enviroment and be around positive people. If you are in a negative situation and around negative people you will have a real bad trip. I just know from experience.
My tripping helped to make me more aware and more spiritual also. It helped me alot. That''s just my experience.

[closethippy1]

Pretty sad that some people need drugs to feel good or self-confident.
Try volunteering instead. Not only will you improve your confidence, but you''''ll have the satisfaction of actually helping someone instead of short-circuiting your neurons.
Posted by Smurfcrusher at 01:06 AM : Jul 01, 2008

And why don''t you try minding your own business. Pretty sad how some people limit the options people should have to help themselves for bogus "moral" reasons.

[juwboy]

As far back as the `50s, LSD was used successfully to cure deep-seated psychological problems by bringing repressed memories to the surface in a matter of HOURS rather than YEARS of psycho-analysis.

Le plus ca change. le plus c`est la meme chose.

[athalon7]

"And why don''''t you try minding your own business. Pretty sad how some people limit the options people should have to help themselves for bogus "moral" reasons."

Ladi frickin da. Who''s not minding their own business? Typical liberal. Its my way or shut up and I will lob a slander in the process.

[honestabe8]

BrianBWB: I''m with you....still waiting for mine.

Athalon: How did this become a liberal/conservative thing?

[honestabe8]

Another thing, Athalon: Isn''t "typical liberal" an attempt at slander in and of itself?

[xoynx]

Actually, it''s classical conservatives who want to preserve people''s right to do as they please so long as it harms no one else. It''s usually liberals who want the gov''t to invade privacy "for their own good." Neocons (Republicans since Reagan) have recently messed up these definitions, but the party is finally swinging back to its roots, migrating away from the Christian (i.e. civil rights-thieving) Right.

[xoynx]

Oh, and yay shrooms! They''re my drug of choice, although I haven''t seen any since 1991.

[athalon7]

"Another thing, Athalon: Isn''''t "typical liberal" an attempt at slander in and of itself?"

Yes, but I have the freedom just as you to voice my opinion. They started down this road.

"And why don''''''''t you try minding your own business. Pretty sad how some people limit the options people should have to help themselves for bogus "moral" reasons."

The above quote just floors me. Someone voices their opinion and another person just has to jump all over them. The reason liberal came into it is because liberals shoot the messanger but never answer the charge.

[docpeter-2009]

Hey, maybe we cab put this in the water at Gitmo. See what happens;-)

[seis-6-six]

Where do i sign up for this study?

[faith_in_w]

These things are bad. You can get the same effects from taking communion.

[texanforlogi]

Remember the scare tactic called "Flashbacks"?

I''''m still waiting for mine, the lying B*astards.


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Posted by brianbwb at 01:59 AM : Jul 01, 2008

Me too, brian!

[nssherlock1]

WOW, Tommy Chong was right all along!

[honestabe8]

Athalon: It isn''t just liberals that shoot the messanger and never answer the charge. It is partisan types of all stripes. Take our Drug Czars (both Democrat and Republican)...their only job is to lie. It will continue on for the next administration, no matter if it is Dem or Republican.

[djberson]

"Even in the controlled setting of the laboratory, nearly a third of participants felt significant fear under the effects of the drug."

More likely than anything because they were in a lab.
----------------
"Without proper supervision, someone could be harmed, researchers said."

Yeah right.
----------------

"Is this God in a pill? Absolutely not," he said.

And what is this person''s religious credentials??

[honestabe8]

djberson: i agree. set and setting are very important to the hallucinogenic experience

[hologram5]

Alright, let''s head back to the sixties, peace and love for all!!

[honestabe8]

"Storming Heaven - LSD and the American Dream" is a good read about the era. Covered much the same territory as "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"

[pete_in_az]

These things are bad. You can get the same effects from taking communion.
Posted by faith_in_w at 08:59 AM : Jul 01, 2008
---

Typical narrow minded ERWBDC. Your "god" isn''t the only way you twit.

[honestabe8]

These things are bad. You can get the same effects from taking communion.
Posted by faith_in_w at 08:59 AM : Jul 01, 2008

Yeah, but with the ''shrooms, you don''t have to deal with the ***** priests.

[ianlou]

Albert Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who discovered the hallucinogenic drug LSD used it off and on till his death several months ago at the age of 102. If he drank legal alcohol instead he may not have lived as long.

Concerning drugs, the difference between the words "Use" and "Abuse" is whether you have legal permission.

"She died of prescription drug use"
as opposed to
"She was arrested for drug abuse when they found a joint in her pocket.

The ultimate hypocrite is the parent who supports and encorages laws to protect their children from doing what they did when they were young.

[honestabe8]

pete_in_az: faith_in_w is just a goof. he/she doesn''t believe what they post, they are just sort of a spoof of shrubsuckers.

[ianlou]

Hey, maybe we cab put this in the water at Gitmo. See what happens;-)
Posted by docpeter

I would be suprised to hear we havent

[chromenun]

Personally I cannot relate to becoming "experienced" in a Lab setting. That doesn''t sound fun at all. They should have taken them to a head shop and let them sit in the black light room!!! I can think of lots of places that would be more fun than a Lab...

At least the scientists are getting on the right track!!! It''s about time...

[honestabe8]

ianlou: i agree. "use" and "abuse" are terms that lose their meaning when included in prohibitionist rhetoric

[seis-6-six]

aaaaaaahh yes, the sweet pungent taste of Peyote....

oh how ive missed u....

[texanforlogi]

These things are bad. You can get the same effects from taking communion.
Posted by faith_in_w at 08:59 AM : Jul 01, 2008

Yeah, but with the ''''shrooms, you don''''t have to deal with the ***** priests.


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Posted by honestabe8 at 10:08 AM : Jul 01, 2008

Good one!

[texanforlogi]

"...questionnaire answers indicated lasting gains in traits like being more sensitive, tolerant, loving and compassionate"


Doesn''t this give one ideas. . . hmmmm, I have a whole list of folks who could benefit from this.

[tootall10142]

WHY DIDNT THEY JUST ASK A NATIVE AMERICAN THEY WOULD HAVE AND HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR FOR OH A COUPLE OF HUNDERD YEARS NOW DONT FORGET THE SCILLSCILLA SHROOM.

[scallywag8]

My brother is a quad. We took some LSD one night and he could raise and lower his legs and almost get up and walk. No we were not hallocinating. Doctors didn''t want to touch the topic with a ten foot pole. How sad is that. I still think with their help he could be walking.

[legacyabq]

Well, I can tell you, I have grown and eaten these mushrooms (years ago) and all the positive things said about them are true. These little guys will open your eyes and give you a new respect for our life in this universe; very mind-opening. Not just for visual entertainment like some people use them, but very much a powerful learning experience. They scare people sometimes because they are powerful, but this is usually because they are so trapped in their petty egos they dont want to let go. Learning to let go of your ego alittle bit is a powerful experience no matter how it''s acheived: religion, meditation, near death experience, psychedelics, etc. All is good for personal growth: there''s nothing to be afraid of! We are in this together and 125 years from now every living human on this planet right now will be dead! So enjoy yourself and learn while you can! Love and peace to all, and good journeys...

[dnamj]

I concur that the experience of overall very beneficial. What this article doesn''t mention is how the subjects were screened prior to taking the drugs. There are some personalities that should not be subjected to this experience, but for most, at least in my opinion, it should be recommended highly. There is no quicker way to learn about the nature of reality and perception. I think that it has a lot to do with basal brain function, the older part, and the part that creates empathetic and psychic-type connections.

If we''re going to pull together as a species and create one world we can all live in perpetually, then these skills are going to become essential.

[excoachken]

Research, as early as the 60''s has shown that LSD has some positive results in dealing with personality disorders. The proble, howveer, as shown by some of the "self-medicated" who have responded here, is that it must be very carefully observed by medical professionals and NOT by your acid distributing college roommate!

[bobnjersey]

[These things are bad. You can get the same effects from taking communion.]
[Posted by faith_in_w at 08:59 AM : Jul 01, 2008]

no kidding ... what do you think they''re making all those communion ''hosts'' out of!

[honestabe8]

excoachken: do you have a problem with self-medication?

[newageblues]

the only thing surprising about this is that the feds allowed the study.

[u-r-right]

Ahh yes, they sure were fun at college football games. Sitting up high in the bleachers, it felt as if we were floating above the crowd. That''s all I''ve got to say about that.

[honestabe8]

ttinsley: i agree about ''shrooms versus LSD. i have enjoyed both, but acid is definitely more intense. more of a speedy thing. i prefer mushrooms and some good bud.

[rushman71]

honestabe8: Yo, man. I never had the chance to try ''shrooms. Will it give me the munchies?