Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms are famous street narcotics that could be linked to mental health treatment, based on a new study. It analyzed the substances' effects as therapies for mental disorders including anxiety, depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The research was conducted by the University of British Columbia (UBC). It was published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The study's findings suggest that certain illegal drugs could be medically beneficial. The research was conducted from the 1950s to the 1970s, but was phased out due to the public's disapproval of such narcotics. The following "war on drugs" basically ended them.
Co-study author Stephen Quinn is from UBC. He stated that research on the health benefits of street drugs is gaining popularity due to the medical world's interest. That is due to mental health challenges and current treatments' limits.
The drugs are being tested in small-scale clinical trials. For instance, magic mushrooms' psilocybin compound is being tested for treating end-of-life anxiety and tobacco addiction.
A recent study showed that they provided an 80 percent cure rate within six months, according to CBC. Those results are super high compared to current therapies.
Meanwhile, the CMA journal reports that the active molecule of MDMA or "ecstasy" is treating PTSD in trials. That is among first responders and former soldiers.
The UBC study also reports on the clinical study of LSD. "Acid" and the spineless cactus peyote are used to treat anxiety and addictions, according to Morning Ticker.
The study's authors admitted that some negative effects are linked to the use of the drugs to treat medical illnesses, such as in patients with a family history of bipolar disorder or psychosis. It could result in violence or self-inflicted injuries.
Researchers sometimes have to deal with red tape before studying illegal drugs. For example, it is more challenging due to Canada's ruling Conservative Party.
This video shows the effects of "magic" mushrooms on humans' brains: