Are psychedelics safe to use?

According to the head of a drug research organization, the use of psychedelic drugs is no more dangerous than cycling, playing football, or smoking cigarettes.

He says that 30 million adults in the US have tried psychedelics and there is no evidence that they do any harm, but certain drugs could be useful in reducing dependence on other, more harmful substances. This is contrary to human rights, and compared to alcohol and other controlled substances, psychedelic drugs are much less harmful to human health than other drugs, says Dr. John Johansen, director of the Psychedelics Recovery Centre at the University of California, San Diego. These kinds of narratives are common among the people who participate in our recreational groups, as psychedelic consumption is considered a relapse and can push them to the substances that have caused them the most problems, such as alcohol.

Studies have highlighted how MDMA - assisted psychotherapy - could be used to help people suffering from various forms of PTSD. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology highlights how LSD and psilocybin could potentially be used to treat alcohol addiction.

Similar to ayahuasca, brain scans have shown that psilocybin can suppress activity in the brain’s standard mode network, and people who stumble across shrooms report experiencing high levels of happiness and belonging to the world. Recent research could prove the potential of psilocybin for the treatment of depression and other mental illnesses. Psilocin has thrilled researchers because it has shown time and again that it can help people with depression.

The Lancet found that high doses of mushrooms reduced depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant patients. These psychological benefits have led researchers to believe that psychedelics could be an effective therapeutic treatment.

Indeed, many studies have found that one way or another, all four drugs have the potential to treat a wide range of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Microdosing with certain psychedelics is said to induce physical and mental stimulation, improve mood, promote creative thinking, and induce relaxation. Recent studies support the idea that hallucinogenic drugs such as ayahuasca, DMT, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, or even diazepam can be used to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental illnesses.