Report: Doctors Give Psychedelics Second Look

(CBS)  For many, mentioning the term psychedelic likely conjures images of long-haired hippies from the 1960s immersed in a drug culture typified by Timothy Leary's slogan "Turn on, tune in, drop out." But a recent reexamination of hallucinogens' medicinal benefits may be changing that.

According to a New York Times report, preliminary research has shown that hallucinogens - such as psilocybin, which is derived from certain mushrooms - have proven effective at treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and end-of-life anxiety.

In the case of Clark Martin, a retired clinical psychologist battling kidney cancer and a serious bout of depression, hallucinogens provided relief that more mainstream antidepressants didn't. Taking part in an experiment at Johns Hopkins medical school last year, the 65-year-old Martin had his first psychedelic experience, which involved psilocybin, a blindfold and headphones pumping out classical music.

"All of a sudden, everything familiar started evaporating," he told the Times. "Imagine you fall off a boat out in the open ocean, and you turn around, and the boat is gone. And then the water's gone. And then you're gone."

Martin has credited the treatment with changing his outlook on life and improving his personal relationships. Others administered psilocybin have also reported, more than a year later, greater satisfaction with their lives.

According to the report, researchers are drawing some parallels between patients' psychedelic experiences and the life-changing revelations of religious mystics. The results, while not physical, appear to be a greater sense of peace with oneself.

"Under the influences of hallucinogens individuals transcend their primary identification with their bodies and experience ego-free states before the time of their actual physical demise, and return with a new perspective and profound acceptance of the life constant: change," writes Dr. Charles Grob, a psychiatrist involved in the experiment at U.C.L.A.

Despite early positive results, researchers are cognizant of overcoming the negative stereotype often conferred upon the psychedelic movement's previous incarnation. To that end, the drugs are administered using strict safety protocols. Researchers are also hopeful that with other new age trends like yoga and meditation becoming mainstream, acceptance of psychedelic medical treatment isn't far behind.

According to the report, studies are currently underway at Hopkins, the University of Arizona, Harvard, New York University, U.C.L.A., among other places. Researchers from around the world are meeting in San Jose this week to discuss the results.

[Xamkr]

There were quite a few studies using these substances in the late 50's and 60's, but between methodological problems and the association with the counterculture, these chemicals were deemed evil. If people like Timothy Leary had stuck to pure science and avoided the counterculture bandwagon, we wouldn't have had this huge time lag in researching the potential benefits of these powerful substances for treating and understanding mental illness. The "free-thinking" hippies damaged the science, setting us back by half a century.

[tmittelstaed]

The problem with these psychedelics (even pot, which while you don't hallucinate, it changes perception) is that, yes, you learn - but once you learn, then that's the end of it.

Repeated use of them doesen't expand your mind any further than it's been expanded after the first few times you use them.

I can see them as a cure for depression that's not medically-caused depression, but rather depression that's "all-in-the-mind" But, depression that's caused due to a body chemistry problem - that, these will not cure, they will only mask.

[scissors1776]

what is your evidence that you "learn" once? are you speaking from experience or opinion? most depression whether environmental or due to neurotransmission can be cured with CBT. Excercise alone has been shown to work in chemical depression, in some cases as effectively as SSRI's. The research, theory, and methods are still in the works. You might wait to cast judgement until after we see the breakthroughs.

[ockham500]

That is why I did it in the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc and still do.

[babooph]

Back to the 1930s...

[antoniof123]

Everything in nature has a purpose too bad most people are always willing to listen to someone else.

Remember what comes from fungus something that saved lives left and right but then again so do drugs.

Have a nice day and don't do things that will kill you.

[snowball77]

The picture CBS uses for mushrooms is probably lethal variety. I guess we don?t want to take time and show what mushrooms really look like. These look like the cartoon variety well know for their potency.

[michaelsperry2]

You are wrong these are the correct pictures of the mushrooms to get high on.

[snowball77]

I wouldn't bet my life on it.
http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2007/08/06/mushrooms-topper.jpg
I think you are right.Interesting what is going on in Holland.

[snowball77]

Pot: I would never give that to children. Perhaps that is the real problem with the drug laws today. As effective as they are children can still get pot. Though I would rather my son or daughter say to me dad I am getting high on pot than Dad I am an alcoholic. Especially if they are driving a vehicle.

[DongWork4Yuda]

That picture of mushrooms CBS is referencing are not psychdelic mushrooms.

[AttentionDeficit]

Aminita Muscaria are certainly psychedelic

[snowball77]

I don't see how doctors can administer LSD in a clinical situation as the psychiatric ward is not exactly reassuring. Maybe an LSD nurse will help the patient control his sitation when he trips. LSD is so powerful. I do agree that terminally ill should be able to get LSD, Cocaine, hookers, whatever. Who the hell cares? The death police?
I plan on smoking a joint at my 80th birthday regardless what the MAN says.

[AttentionDeficit]

I am doing it down, no matter what The Man says

[snowball77]

I've taken acid. It is a strong trip for about 8 hours. During that time you have a kind of break down of your consciousness- in generally a good way. I remember being satisfied just looking at my hand. It seemed to breath and pulse. I do recall times when I didn't want the trip to continue as in it was exhausting. 8 hours is a long time. I must have tripped dozens of times in the 70's when I was a young adult. Not sure I would want to trip these days as it is exhausting. Mushrooms made me sick once but prior to that I recall laughing and giggling for hours. LSD is powerful. I recall reading it was used in therapy in the 1950s with the movie stars. It does give you a new perspective on life. Everything literally glows with vitality. When you close your eyes you move into a hallucinatory state. I would remind people to put yourself in safe surrounding before tripping. Putting yourself in a peaceful surrounding is critical to a positive trip. Also, take a small amount of this powerful drug. It's not aspirin. I would never recommend this for children. I am not sure how it would affect someone with depression or schizophrenia. It would awaken someone with depression, at east temporally. I recall tripping that I wanted just the right kind of music, Steve Miller band would make me happy. Well, there I dated myself. I would never abuse LSD, that is crazy. There was a test of an artist on LSD and it showed how his work changed during his trip to the more abstract and perhaps less detailed type of drawing. Then as the drug went away the drawing started to resemble the model he was drawing. It showed a disconnection with reality.

[AttentionDeficit]

snowball: i agree about the acid. it was fun a long time ago, but i don't know that i can deal with all that work now