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At a glance: Recent research comparing psilocybin to the antidepressant escitalopram suggests that psilocybin may provide more holistic benefits for individuals with depression. Both treatments were effective in reducing depressive symptoms, but psilocybin users reported greater long-term improvements in well-being, social functioning, and life meaning. This finding supports psilocybin as a promising treatment that may enhance psychological connectedness and overall quality of life, unlike traditional SSRIs, which do not benefit approximately 30% of users. However, further research is needed, given limitations like self-reporting and potential confounding factors​. Read the article here »

At a glance: Recent research comparing psilocybin to the antidepressant escitalopram suggests that psilocybin may provide more holistic benefits for individuals with depression. Both treatments were effective in reducing depressive symptoms, but psilocybin users reported greater long-term improvements in well-being, social functioning, and life meaning. This finding supports psilocybin as a promising treatment that may enhance psychological connectedness and overall quality of life, unlike traditional SSRIs, which do not benefit approximately 30% of users. However, further research is needed, given limitations like self-reporting and potential confounding factors​. Read the article here »

In this article, a person diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer shares their experience with ketamine therapy for anxiety relief. They approach the treatment seeking a practical solution, without expectations of spiritual transformation. Through detailed descriptions of their therapy sessions, they navigate the effects of ketamine, expressing skepticism despite moments of temporary relief. Ultimately, the article reflects on the ongoing struggle with mortality and the search for acceptance amidst life's challenges. Key Takeaways Ketamine therapy was explored by an individual diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer to alleviate anxiety and existential dread, showcasing the potential of psychedelics in addressing mental health challenges amid life-threatening illnesses.Despite skepticism and a desire for a practical "brain tune-up" over spiritual experiences, the individual underwent six sessions of ketamine therapy, detailing their experiences and the varying effects on their anxiety levels.The article underscores the complexities of ketamine therapy, highlighting moments of relief alongside lingering uncertainty about its efficacy, ultimately reflecting on the broader journey of acceptance and resilience in the face of mortality. From the Article"As I considered ketamine therapy for anxiety, I wasn't looking for spiritual rebirth. I just wanted a straightforward brain tuneup, like getting a car serviced.In 2020, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. My body was treated with targeted therapies, but emotionally, I was vacillating between existential dread and crippling anxiety. Antidepressants, talk therapy and meditation couldn't make a dent. I couldn't summon the willpower or prolonged attention span needed to tackle my taxes or the unfinished writing assignments strewn across my desk. Maybe ketamine could help?" Read the Full Article

View the full article on 12News here: https://www.12news.com/article...."PHOENIX - Robert Steele was taking more than 300 pills a month after his wartime service in Iraq.  "It's time that we have an alternative for treatment, just another option," Steele said Tuesday at a Capitol news conference. "It might not work for everybody. But another option is all we're really requesting here."For Steele, that option was traveling out of state for PTSD treatment with psychedelic mushrooms.  Steele's 17-year-old daughter, Alyssa, saw the difference they made. "You could completely tell he was just a different person, and just not so angry," she told a reporter.  "And it's just sort of beautiful to see my Dad be able to find peace again."..."By Brahm ResnikFebruary 14, 2024

To read more about the Illinois bill, visit this article on High Times: https://hightimes.com/news/ill...Video Description: "The Cure Act aims to decriminalize "magic mushrooms" in Illinois. State Rep. La Shawn Ford says many people depend on psilocybin products for end-of-life care, drug addiction, PTSD and other psychological conditions."For more from this YouTube channel, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@FOX32...

Read the full press release on Yahoo Finance here: https://finance.yahoo.com/news... "Vancouver, Canada, Feb. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearmind Medicine Inc. (Nasdaq, CSE: CMND), (FSE: CWY) ("Clearmind" or the "company"), a biotech company focused on discovery and development of novel psychedelic-derived therapeutics to solve major under-treated health problems, announced today that it has submitted three patent applications under the international Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT"), as part of its ongoing collaboration with SciSparc Ltd. (Nasdaq: SPRC) ("SciSparc"), a specialty clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of therapies to treat disorders of the central nervous system. The three patent applications refer to novel proprietary combinations of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and SciSparc's Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), the active ingredient of SciSparc' proprietary CannAmide™..." By Clearmind Medicine Inc.February 20th, 2024

Anxiety, depression, Ketamine, suicide

View the full articles on CNN here: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/19... "(CNN) - Daniel Carcillo wanted two things in life: to play hockey and to be a father. The Canadian started ice skating aged three and got his start in professional ice hockey as soon as he graduated high school. By 20 he'd broken into the NHL and over the next decade would play for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. By 30, he was a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks and, in 2015, had retired from the sport, poised to enjoy retirement with his wife and three children, he says. By age 31, he was suicidal. After seven diagnosed concussions, Carcillo tells CNN that he was suffering from "dementia-like" symptoms, along with depression, anxiety and headaches, so much so that even a day out with his kids felt torturous. Then in a "last-ditch effort" to try and alleviate his symptoms, he says he took a dose of psilocybin - the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms - in Denver, which became the first US city to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms. "And I woke up the next day and I describe it as feeling the way I should," said Carcillo. "I felt like, for the first time in a very, very long time, I had a zest for life. All I wanted to do was get on FaceTime and call my wife and call my kids and get back home..." By: Amy Woodyatt, CNNMon February 19, 2024

Excerpt from an article posted by Stanford News on October 19, 2023 by Nina Bai:  "In study after study, the psychoactive drug ketamine has given profound and fast relief to many people suffering from severe depression. But these studies have a critical shortcoming: Participants usually can tell whether they have been given ketamine or a placebo. Even in blinded trials in which participants are not told which they received, ketamine's oftentimes trippy effects are a dead giveaway. In a new study, Stanford Medicine researchers devised a clever workaround to hide the psychedelic - or dissociative - properties of the anesthetic first developed in 1962. They recruited 40 participants with moderate to severe depression who were also scheduled for routine surgery, then administered a dose of ketamine or placebo when the participants were in surgery and under general anesthesia." Click Here to Read Full Article

Excerpt from an article posted by Stanford News on October 19, 2023 by Nina Bai:  "In study after study, the psychoactive drug ketamine has given profound and fast relief to many people suffering from severe depression. But these studies have a critical shortcoming: Participants usually can tell whether they have been given ketamine or a placebo. Even in blinded trials in which participants are not told which they received, ketamine's oftentimes trippy effects are a dead giveaway. In a new study, Stanford Medicine researchers devised a clever workaround to hide the psychedelic - or dissociative - properties of the anesthetic first developed in 1962. They recruited 40 participants with moderate to severe depression who were also scheduled for routine surgery, then administered a dose of ketamine or placebo when the participants were in surgery and under general anesthesia." Click Here to Read Full Article

Excerpt from an article by Poltico News from August 12, 2023 by Erin Schumaker and Katherine Ellen Foley: "There's a new cause in Washington that's uniting Republicans, Democrats and Biden health officials: psychedelics as a cure for America's mental health crisis. Long derided as counterculture party drugs, psychedelics are gaining new resonance 56 years after psychologist Timothy Leary urged 30,000 hippies in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to "turn on, tune in and drop out." This time, it's not about breaking free of staid convention, as Leary urged, but healing intractable psychic wounds..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article from CBS News by Lisa Ling and Analisa Novak: "Suicide rates for American service members and veterans are nothing short of catastrophic, with recent estimates claiming almost 17 vets take their own lives in the U.S. every day. Many of them suffer from post-traumatic stress and debilitating brain injuries, which traditional medications have largely failed to cure. As many veterans with PTSD remain desperate for healing, a growing number are turning to psychedelic-assisted treatment in Mexico - using substances the government they fought for says are illegal. One of those former service members is Herb Daniels, who spent 14 years as a Green Beret and nearly four years in active combat. After he retired from the military, he said he faced a profound darkness that started to consume him...." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article from Spectrum News from November 14, 2023: "As research into the benefits of psychedelic drugs picks up steam, a growing number of people are using psychedelic drugs in search of healing, meaning, or something else. Advocates are ringing the alarm for more support and guidance as the need for mental health resources reaches a fever pitch. National Health Reporter Erin Billups has more in this third installation in her report on finding healing for PTSD..." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article by STAT News by Olivia Goldhill: "The founder of Field Trip, a chain of shuttered ketamine clinics currently facing insolvency, put forward an unexpected theory of how psychedelics work to treat depression last month. "The truth is, almost all of the effect of psychedelic-assisted therapy could be placebo," said Ronan Levy, speaking at a five-day conference on the emerging field of psychedelic medicine. "Personally I don't have a problem with that. The outcomes are the outcomes, and that's really what matters in my view." While there's evidence to support the idea (which, if correct, would make Field Trip's $5,250 price for six ketamine sessions an unusually expensive placebo effect), attendees at Psychedelic Science 2023 heard an array of explanations for the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs for people with various mental illnesses." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from a segment on NPR, from September 24, 2023: "Research on the therapeutic use of psychedelics is underway at several universities, and data continues to accumulate on how they may help with conditions from PTSD to depression. Many states and localities across the country are considering legislation. Some, like Oregon and Colorado, have already passed regulatory models, which involve licensing facilitators to administer these drugs. And there's increasing interest in that work from a group of professionals who already guide people through life's deep and difficult times: chaplains..."Click Here to Listen or Read the Segment

Excerpt from an article published by the New York Times, by Mike Baker: "Stigmatized in law and medicine for the past half-century, psychedelics are in the midst of a sudden revival, with a growing body of research suggesting that the mind-altering compounds could upend psychiatric care. Governments in several places have cautiously started to open access, and as Oregon voters approved a broad drug decriminalization plan in 2020, they also backed an initiative to allow the use of mushrooms as therapy..." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article by Albert Hofmann on Medicinal Maps: " Ketamine, a well-known anesthetic, is emerging as a promising treatment for various mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its potential benefits have prompted some companies to consider offering psilocybin- and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) as an employee benefit. Dr. Bronner's, a prominent soap manufacturer, became one of the first companies to provide KAT as an employee benefit, partnering with Enthea, a third-party administrator specializing in medication-assisted therapies. Enthea's co-founder and CEO, Sherry Rais, shared that the company currently has 10 customers offering KAT and another 50 with signed letters of intent...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article on Marijuana Moment by Kyle Jaeger: "VA representatives also expressed optimism about the prospects of future federal approval of certain psychedelics, while lawmakers emphasized that it is an issue that has uniquely generated bipartisan support amid a rapidly evolving policy landscape. Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health were originally scheduled to meet last month to discuss the issue, but that hearing was postponed as Republicans scrambled to elect a House speaker. Tuesday's hearing-titled "Emerging Therapies: Breakthroughs in the Battle Against Suicide?"-featured a series of witnesses from the advocacy and scientific community, as well as three VA officials who spoke to the department's ongoing work on psychedelics research and its expectations for possible future clinical applications for veterans...." Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Forbes Magazine by A.J. Herrington, "A trio of New York state lawmakers has introduced a bill to legalize natural psychedelics including psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in so-called magic mushrooms. The bill, which was expected to be formally filed for the 2023-2024 legislative session on Wednesday, was unveiled last week by Democratic Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Jo Anne Simon and Karines Reyes, according to a report from Marijuana Moment."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published by Forbes by A.J. Herrington, "A New Hampshire state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would legalize the possession and use by adults of psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms. The measure, HB328, was introduced in the New Hampshire House of Representatives by Republican state Rep. Kevin Verville on January 5."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article posted by WRAL by Destinee Patterson, "A growing interest in MDMA's potential medicinal benefits has led to the bipartisan support of North Carolina lawmakers."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published by Bridge Michigan by Zahra Ahmad, "Think magic mushrooms are a relic of the counterculture 1960's and 70's? Think again. Hazel Park recently became the third city in Michigan to decriminalize psychedelic plants and psilocybin mushrooms, as advocates collect signatures for a ballot measure that would do the same statewide."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article by Psychedelic Spotlight by Mark Reid, "2023 has already shown extensive advances in the realm of psychedelic policy reform. About a dozen states in the US have put forward legislation that would see multiple psychedelic substances from ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, and more receive downgraded criminalization designations."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article from Missouri Independent by Rebecca Rivas, "In hopes of helping veterans and other Missourians facing mental health issues, the Missouri House advanced a bill Wednesday that would require the state to conduct a study on using psilocybin, also known as "magic mushrooms," to treat depression, substance use or as part end-of-life care."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article from the Star Tribune by Jessie Van Verkel and Briana Bierschbach, "From studying psychedelics to legalizing drug paraphernalia and residue, Minnesota's new drug policies reach far beyond marijuana. The state is enacting changes this year aimed at reducing overdoses and infections, including legalization measures that advocates called nation-leading. The DFL-controlled Legislature also boosted fentanyl-related penalties and approved requirements to ensure schools and police officers carry opioid overdose reversal medication."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to this article on Marijuana Moment by Kyle Jaeger, "A Minnesota House committee on Thursday took up a bill to establish a task force to study and advise on the potential legalization of psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine. As lawmakers in the state continue to advance a measure to legalize marijuana, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee agreed to pause further action on the psychedelics reform bill from Rep. Andy Smith (D) after adopting an amendment meant to bolster its bipartisan appeal."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published on September 14, 2023 in the New York Times, Rachel Nuwer reviews how "MDMA-assisted therapy seems to be effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study published on Thursday. The research is the final trial conducted by MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, a company that is developing prescription psychedelics. It plans to submit the results to the Food and Drug Administration as part of an application for approval to market MDMA, the psychedelic drug, as a treatment for PTSD, when paired with talk therapy."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article on WBUR by Alison Kuznitz, "Several bills before the committee would legalize some natural plants and fungi containing psychedelic compounds, ensuring people aren't penalized for possessing, cultivating, transporting or using the substances. Compounds like psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, mescaline and ibogaine would be decriminalized under the bills."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article published by Psychedelic Spotlight: "Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, a grassroots community group with more than three thousand volunteers across New England, has worked with five city councils to pass measures decriminalizing psychedelic plants, including psilocybin mushrooms. Now that the group has decriminalized more municipalities than any other state, it has turned its focus to legalization of psychedelics state-wide. The coalition has filed eight bills, more than any other state, and the best of these are summarized below..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

From the article: "PORTLAND, Ore. - The curriculum was set, the students were enrolled and Oregon officials had signed off on nearly every detail of training for the first class of "magic" mushroom facilitators seeking state certification. But as the four-day session got underway inside a hotel conference room in early December, an important pedagogical tool was missing: the mushrooms themselves. That's because state officials, two years after Oregon voters narrowly approved the adult use of psilocybin, were still hammering out the regulatory framework for the production and sale of the tawny hallucinogenic fungi."Click Here to Read the Full Article

KAP, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, overview

Ketamine Therapy vs Therapeutic Ketamine InfusionIn an article on psychedelic.support, Jennifer Montjoy and Kate Kincaid discuss how "over the last decade, a growing subset of clinicians, primarily psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners in collaboration with psychologists and therapists, have taken a different approach to ketamine treatment in mental healthcare. A deviation from the medicalized intravenous ketamine infusion clinics, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) uses ketamine as a psychotherapeutic tool during the post-administration (i.e. psychoactive) phase, the 40- to 60-minutes following ketamine administration".  Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article published by the New York Times by Christina Caron: "A new study suggests that, for some patients, the anesthetic ketamine is a promising alternative to electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, currently one of the quickest and most effective therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat depression. The study is the largest head-to-head comparison of the two treatments." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article published by the New York Times by Christina Caron: "A new study suggests that, for some patients, the anesthetic ketamine is a promising alternative to electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, currently one of the quickest and most effective therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat depression. The study is the largest head-to-head comparison of the two treatments." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - A single dose of ketamine may be able to curb harmful drinking behavior by "rewriting drinking memories," according to a study published Tuesday in the journal  Nature Communications. The researchers say that, when coupled with an exercise involving beer that pulls memories of alcohol to the foreground, there's evidence that the drug can disrupt how the brain associates these cues - like the smell or taste of beer - to its perceived "reward," making relapse less likely." Click Here to Read the Full Article

addiction, Alcohol, CNN, Ketamine

"CNN - A single dose of ketamine may be able to curb harmful drinking behavior by "rewriting drinking memories," according to a study published Tuesday in the journal  Nature Communications. The researchers say that, when coupled with an exercise involving beer that pulls memories of alcohol to the foreground, there's evidence that the drug can disrupt how the brain associates these cues - like the smell or taste of beer - to its perceived "reward," making relapse less likely."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Anxiety, depression, Ketamine, suicide

"CNN - People who got intravenous ketamine at three private ketamine infusion clinics had "significant improvement" in symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, a new study says. The study, published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, adds to a growing body of research showing ketamine's promise in treating these conditions."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - People who got intravenous ketamine at three private ketamine infusion clinics had "significant improvement" in symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, a new study says. The study, published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, adds to a growing body of research showing ketamine's promise in treating these conditions."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Anxiety, depression, Ketamine, suicide

"CNN - People who got intravenous ketamine at three private ketamine infusion clinics had "significant improvement" in symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, a new study says. The study, published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, adds to a growing body of research showing ketamine's promise in treating these conditions." Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine

In an article published in the Washington Post, Rachel Zimmerman answers ten common questions regarding Ketamine, and the potential therapeutic uses for Ketamine and Ketamine Therapy. Click Here to Read the Article

Ketamine, Mental Health

In this article from NBC News, Lauren Dunn and Kate Snow interview Chere Scythes about her experience receiving Ketamine treatment at a clinic in New York. Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine, suicide

"Ketamine has been in the news lately because of its ability to relieve depression in people who are classified as "treatment-resistant"-that is, people who don't respond to traditional medications like Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil or Effexor. Traditionally used as an anesthetic, ketamine's street name is "Special K," and it's known for its hallucinatory effects. For psychiatrists, those hallucinatory effects are significant, because research......" Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, suicide

"Ketamine has been in the news lately because of its ability to relieve depression in people who are classified as "treatment-resistant"-that is, people who don't respond to traditional medications like Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil or Effexor. Traditionally used as an anesthetic, ketamine's street name is "Special K," and it's known for its hallucinatory effects. For psychiatrists, those hallucinatory effects are significant, because research......" Click Here to Read the Full Article

This article posted by CNN in November 2022 recounts the experience of Chrissi DelaCruz and her experience with Psilocybin to help with various mental health issues. The article discusses how "scientists are still exploring the how and the why behind the connection between psychedelics and improved mental health. What is known is that just like common antidepressants called SSRIs, psilocybin attaches to receptors in the brain that trigger the release of serotonin, the "feel good" hormone." Click Here to Read the Full Article

overview, Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy

In this article from CBS News by Heather Brown, we're given an inside perspective on the journey of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy via a clinic in Minnesota. Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Drug tourists, mining companies and farming encroachment are threatening the Wixárika people's annual hunt for the psychedelic plant in the Mexican desert."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"JI-PARANÁ, Brazil - As the night sky enveloped this outpost in Brazil's Amazon basin, the ceremony at the open-air temple began simply enough. Dozens of adults and children, all clad in white, stood in a line. A holy man handed each a cup of ayahuasca, a muddy-looking hallucinogenic brew. They gulped it down; some vomited. Hymns were sung. More ayahuasca was consumed. By midnight, the congregants seemed strangely energized. Then the dancing began. Such rituals are a fixture across the Amazon, where ayahuasca has been consumed for centuries and entire religions have coalesced around the psychedelic concoction. But the ceremony one night this month was different: Among those imbibing from the holy man's decanter were prison inmates....."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article published on WCIA by Theodora Koulouvaris: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) - A bill introduced in the State Capitol would create a regulated psychedelic therapy program.  Under the proposal, known as the Illinois CURE Act, only people 18 or older can seek this treatment, which will only be available at licensed facilities."Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine

"Some people experience episodic depression, but since the onset of my illness in early childhood, I sank far and fast and never truly surfaced. Over the years I tried every available treatment. I stayed in psychiatric hospitals, underwent years of therapy and tried a pharmacy's worth of antidepressants, but my condition never improved. One day, I stumbled across an article on the use of ketamine as a promising treatment..." Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine

"Some people experience episodic depression, but since the onset of my illness in early childhood, I sank far and fast and never truly surfaced. Over the years I tried every available treatment. I stayed in psychiatric hospitals, underwent years of therapy and tried a pharmacy's worth of antidepressants, but my condition never improved. One day, I stumbled across an article on the use of ketamine as a promising treatment..." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Melissa Lavasani hesitated last December as she prepared to submit the paperwork for a ballot initiative that would decriminalize natural psychedelics like magic mushrooms, mescaline, and ayahuasca. "What are the moms at school going to say about this?" she remembers thinking.  Lavasani's neighbors in the H Street, Northeast, neighborhood were likely to know her as the budget officer for the DC Department of Energy & Environment, or perhaps as the mother of two young neighborhood kids. What few knew at the time, though, is that Lavasani felt that substances many people think of as recreational drugs might have saved her life......"Click Here to Read the Full Article

mushrooms, psilobycin

"Melissa Lavasani hesitated last December as she prepared to submit the paperwork for a ballot initiative that would decriminalize natural psychedelics like magic mushrooms, mescaline, and ayahuasca. "What are the moms at school going to say about this?" she remembers thinking.  Lavasani's neighbors in the H Street, Northeast, neighborhood were likely to know her as the budget officer for the DC Department of Energy & Environment, or perhaps as the mother of two young neighborhood kids. What few knew at the time, though, is that Lavasani felt that substances many people think of as recreational drugs might have saved her life......"Click Here to Read the Full Article

"North Carolina lawmakers are advancing a bill to authorize research into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. If it's approved, the state would put millions of dollars into psychedelic research to demonstrate to lawmakers and regulators whether the drugs are safe and effective-and could ultimately change criminal laws. The bill resembles others around the country. But the story of its inception-through student activism and a chance connection between veterans-is unique"Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Pam Sakuda was 55 when she found out she was dying. Shortly after having a tumor removed from her colon, she heard the doctor's dreaded words: Stage 4; metastatic. Sakuda was given 6 to 14 months to live. Determined to slow her disease's insidious course, she ran several miles every day, even during her grueling treatment regimens. By nature upbeat, articulate and dignified, Sakuda - who died in November 2006, outlasting everyone's expectations by living for four years - was alarmed when anxiety and depression came to claim her after she passed the 14-month mark......" Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Pam Sakuda was 55 when she found out she was dying. Shortly after having a tumor removed from her colon, she heard the doctor's dreaded words: Stage 4; metastatic. Sakuda was given 6 to 14 months to live. Determined to slow her disease's insidious course, she ran several miles every day, even during her grueling treatment regimens. By nature upbeat, articulate and dignified, Sakuda - who died in November 2006, outlasting everyone's expectations by living for four years - was alarmed when anxiety and depression came to claim her after she passed the 14-month mark......" Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Shrooms, Alice, tweezes, mushies, hongos, pizza toppings, magic mushrooms - everyday lingo for psychedelic mushrooms seems to grow with each generation. Yet leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes it's time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave such childish slang behind."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Shrooms, Alice, tweezes, mushies, hongos, pizza toppings, magic mushrooms - everyday lingo for psychedelic mushrooms seems to grow with each generation. Yet leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes it's time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave such childish slang behind."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Shrooms, Alice, tweezes, mushies, hongos, pizza toppings, magic mushrooms - everyday lingo for psychedelic mushrooms seems to grow with each generation. Yet leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes it's time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave such childish slang behind."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published by Lucid News by April McGhee, "Ketamine's off-label use for depression has increased steadily since the treatment's efficacy was established in 2006. But in 2020, as many medical practices moved online to continue seeing and treating patients, ketamine went digital, and companies offering ketamine specifically designed for at-home use emerged on the scene.Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine, yale

How Ketamine Drug Helps with Depression From the article on YaleMedicine.org Jennifer Chen writes "On March 5, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine-an anesthetic that has made waves for its surprising antidepressant effect." Read the full article to learn about this breakthrough, and how Yale Psychiatrists are leading the charge of Ketamine research.  Read the Full Article

depression, Ketamine

How Ketamine Drug Helps with Depression From the article on YaleMedicine.org Jennifer Chen writes "On March 5, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine-an anesthetic that has made waves for its surprising antidepressant effect." Read the full article to learn about this breakthrough, and how Yale Psychiatrists are leading the charge of Ketamine research.  Read the Full Article

LSD

"The psychedelic drug LSD can profoundly alter people's state of consciousness - causing everything from strange thoughts to visual hallucinations. But a new study where volunteers took LSD before having an MRI scan taken of their brain has offered insight into what the drug actually does inside the organ."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"As a retired clinical psychologist, Clark Martin was well acquainted with traditional treatments for depression, but his own case seemed untreatable as he struggled through chemotherapy and other grueling regimens for kidney cancer. Counseling seemed futile to him. So did the antidepressant pills he tried. Nothing had any lasting effect until, at the age of 65, he had his first psychedelic experience. He left his home in Vancouver, Wash., to take part in an experiment at Johns Hopkins medical school involving psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient found in certain mushrooms..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article by 11 Alive News by Doug Richards, "An Atlanta councilwoman has introduced a measure that would advise police to make it a low priority to prosecute folks in possession of psychedelic mushrooms, which are illegal under federal law."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article on Marijuana Moment by Kyle Jaeger, "Georgia lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bipartisan resolution that calls for the formation of a House study committee to investigate the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and make recommendations for reforms."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article on Marijuana Moment by Ben Adin, "Local leaders in the city of Ferndale, Michigan, passed a resolution this week that advocates say decriminalizes psychedelic plants and fungi, including drugs such as psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca and DMT. Ferndale is the fourth Michigan city to pass such a measure. Detroit, Ann Arbor and Hazel Park have adopted similar policy changes."Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, FDA, Ketamine

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant medicines but have not benefited from them (treatment-resistant depression). Because of the risk of serious adverse outcomes resulting from sedation and dissociation caused by Spravato administration, and the...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, FDA, Ketamine

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant medicines but have not benefited from them (treatment-resistant depression). Because of the risk of serious adverse outcomes resulting from sedation and dissociation caused by Spravato administration, and the...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

FDA, MDMA, PTSD, Trauma, veterans

"MDMA, an illegal psychedelic drug commonly known as ecstasy or molly, could be used to treat post-traumatic stress, researchers say. But access to the drug for testing has been difficult, even though the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 designated it as a "breakthrough therapy" for PTS treatment. Clinical tests of the drug are in their third phase, but people whose moderate or severe PTS  is resistant to other treatments could potentially benefit from early access to MDMA, according to the nonprofit research group, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)...." Click Here to Read the Full Article

FDA, MDMA, PTSD, Trauma

"MDMA, an illegal psychedelic drug commonly known as ecstasy or molly, could be used to treat post-traumatic stress, researchers say. But access to the drug for testing has been difficult, even though the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 designated it as a "breakthrough therapy" for PTS treatment. Clinical tests of the drug are in their third phase, but people whose moderate or severe PTS  is resistant to other treatments could potentially benefit from early access to MDMA, according to the nonprofit research group, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)...." Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, PTSD, Trauma, veterans

"MDMA, an illegal psychedelic drug commonly known as ecstasy or molly, could be used to treat post-traumatic stress, researchers say. But access to the drug for testing has been difficult, even though the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 designated it as a "breakthrough therapy" for PTS treatment. Clinical tests of the drug are in their third phase, but people whose moderate or severe PTS  is resistant to other treatments could potentially benefit from early access to MDMA, according to the nonprofit research group, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)...." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"TITUSVILLE, N.J., February 12, 2019 - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Psychopharmacologic Drug Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee jointly voted (14 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain) that data support the favorable benefit-risk profile of SPRAVATOTM (esketamine) nasal spray CIII for adults living with treatment-resistant depression. SPRAVATOTM is an investigational prescription treatment that is thought to work differently than currently approved therapies for major depressive disorder (MDD)." Click Here to Read the Full Press Release

"LSD, magic mushrooms, and "Molly": Not words that come to mind for most people when they think of serious medical research. And yet researchers into post-traumatic stress disorder and conditions like depression are doing exactly that for the first time in decades -- with an Internet-age twist. With traditional funding scarce, some researchers are turning to crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo to raise cash for their studies. It's a strategy that could revive their work examining the positive psychic potential of hallucinogens, a field that has been on life support since the 1970s." Click Here to Read the Full Article

LSD, MDMA, PTSD

"LSD, magic mushrooms, and "Molly": Not words that come to mind for most people when they think of serious medical research. And yet researchers into post-traumatic stress disorder and conditions like depression are doing exactly that for the first time in decades -- with an Internet-age twist. With traditional funding scarce, some researchers are turning to crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo to raise cash for their studies. It's a strategy that could revive their work examining the positive psychic potential of hallucinogens, a field that has been on life support since the 1970s."Click Here to Read the Full Article

LSD, MDMA, PTSD

"LSD, magic mushrooms, and "Molly": Not words that come to mind for most people when they think of serious medical research. And yet researchers into post-traumatic stress disorder and conditions like depression are doing exactly that for the first time in decades -- with an Internet-age twist. With traditional funding scarce, some researchers are turning to crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo to raise cash for their studies. It's a strategy that could revive their work examining the positive psychic potential of hallucinogens, a field that has been on life support since the 1970s."Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, PTSD, Trauma

"A study suggests that therapy combined with the drug MDMA could be useful when traditional treatments for PTSD have failed."Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, PTSD

"A study suggests that therapy combined with the drug MDMA could be useful when traditional treatments for PTSD have failed."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Forbes by Amanda Seibert, "A total of 36 states across America have legalized cannabis while 15 offer adult-use and medical marijuana, so keeping track of the nation's patchwork of laws is no easy task. One Florida lawyer has spent the last several years dedicating himself to serving all areas of the nation's cannabis and hemp industries, and after his involvement in the landmark bill to legalize drugs in Oregon, he's working to draft a psychedelics legalization bill in his home state."Click Here to Read the Full Article 

"Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a CNN Original six-part docuseries going around the world, as well as a podcast covering a range of topics. On Tuesday, November 8 on season five, episode eight of the podcast Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and CNN commentator dove into the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental conditions. Gupta will be exploring the role of psychedelics in medicine for the whole season....."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article posted by the Microdose Newsdesk, "2023 has started off as a good year for psychedelic decriminalization. The year started with Oregon implementing its legalized psilocybin therapy programs, and a few days later, the state of New York announced a bill to legalize some psychedelics for adults 21 and older. We then had bills introduced by Hawaii, Virginia, and Missouri. Continuing the trend, we have several other states voting on psychedelic reform bills."Click Here to Read the Full Article

depression, mushrooms, psilocybin

"The largest-ever clinical trial of psilocybin - the psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms" - is set to begin by the end of December. It's the first time a clinical trial of the hallucinogen has reached Phase 3, one of the last steps necessary before an experimental drug can go to the Food and Drug Administration for possible regulatory approval. The research will look at whether the drug can effectively treat depression when other therapies have failed."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"The largest-ever clinical trial of psilocybin - the psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms" - is set to begin by the end of December. It's the first time a clinical trial of the hallucinogen has reached Phase 3, one of the last steps necessary before an experimental drug can go to the Food and Drug Administration for possible regulatory approval. The research will look at whether the drug can effectively treat depression when other therapies have failed."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article by Queen City News by Annie Szatkowski, "As North Carolina continues to debate legalizing medical marijuana, there's a different drug that a Mecklenburg County State Representative wants on Raleigh's radar. Psychedelics like MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin are drawing more attention for their therapeutic uses for people who've literally tried every treatment out there for a number of medical and mental health conditions."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from article published in the Washington Post by Meryl Kornfield: "For years, Jason Anthony wondered why anyone would sing along to music alone in their car, an act of indulgence. Throughout his 15-year battle with depression, Anthony, 52, could barely get out of bed. He kept empty liter-size soda bottles nearby for when he couldn't get to the bathroom. Showering and walking out the front door was a feat. He wouldn't have thought to amuse himself with a tune. But after working out at his home gym on a recent July weekend, Anthony, a criminal defense attorney in Richmond, found himself serenading his three yellow labradors with 1980s hair band tunes. And it wasn't an act. Anthony joked about the impromptu show as a nurse at MindPeace Clinic in Richmond prepared the treatment he credited with his newfound mental well-being: ketamine...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from article published in the Washington Post by Meryl Kornfield: "For years, Jason Anthony wondered why anyone would sing along to music alone in their car, an act of indulgence. Throughout his 15-year battle with depression, Anthony, 52, could barely get out of bed. He kept empty liter-size soda bottles nearby for when he couldn't get to the bathroom. Showering and walking out the front door was a feat. He wouldn't have thought to amuse himself with a tune. But after working out at his home gym on a recent July weekend, Anthony, a criminal defense attorney in Richmond, found himself serenading his three yellow labradors with 1980s hair band tunes. And it wasn't an act. Anthony joked about the impromptu show as a nurse at MindPeace Clinic in Richmond prepared the treatment he credited with his newfound mental well-being: ketamine...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - A single dose of psilocybin, a compound found in "magic mushrooms," provides long-term relief of anxiety and depression in cancer patients, a new study finds. In fact, cancer patients who were given psilocybin reported reductions in anxiety, depression, hopelessness, demoralization, and death anxiety more than four years after receiving the dose in combination with psychotherapy." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcoholism, psilocybin

In an article on Psychology Today, Dan Mager MSW discusses how new research is confirming how "psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy helped participants significantly reduce drinking for at least eight months."  Read the article for a review of how this research is being applied to patients with substance use disorders.Click Here to Read the Full Article

addiction, Alcohol Use Disorder, psilocybin

In an article on Psychology Today, Dan Mager MSW discusses how new research is confirming how "psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy helped participants significantly reduce drinking for at least eight months."  Read the article for a review of how this research is being applied to patients with substance use disorders. Click Here to Read the Full Article

From an article written by Carla K. Johnson in AP News on September 15, 2023: "The psychedelic drug MDMA can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers reported in a new study published Thursday. The company sponsoring the research said it plans later this year to seek U.S. approval to market the drug, also known as ecstasy, as a PTSD treatment when combined with talk therapy."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article on Iowa Public Radio by Josie Fischels, Caitlin Troutman, and Ben Kieffer, "Neuroscientists, including researchers at the University of Iowa, say psychedelic drugs may launch a new era in psychiatric treatment. Drugs like psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA could offer a new way to treat disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to chronic pain and PTSD..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

From the article on NBCNews.com by Danica Jefferies, "psychedelics are gaining momentum as potential therapies for certain mental health conditions and may soon be prescribed by doctors in some states".  The article discusses insights from Janis Phelps, who is "on the front line of training those practitioners" responsible for providing treatment. Click Here to View the Full Article

Couples Therapy, MDMA

"Under the influence of MDMA, the drug also known as ecstasy, Joe and his wife were able to reach new understanding, voicing their true feelings and listening to the other. Now, a few times a year, the New Mexico couple calls a babysitter, goes out to dinner, and spends the night in a fancy hotel room where they take the drug and discuss issues in their almost decade-long marriage, ranging from chores to parenting to sex."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Psychiatric News by Terri D'arrigo, "Legislative reform regarding psychedelics is gaining ground, a study in JAMA Psychiatry has found. From January 1, 2019, to September 28, 2022, 25 states considered 74 bills that proposed to reform existing laws restricting access to psychedelic drugs or proposed further research into reform legislation, and 10 of those bills had been signed into law by seven states."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Mental Health

According to an article on ScienceNews.org, McKenzie Prillaman reviews how and why psychedelics like Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and Psilocybin are "showing promise in clinical trials as treatments for mental health disorders" like depression and PTSD. Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published by Forbes by A.J. Herrington, "A Rhode Island legislative committee this week approved a bill to legalize the possession and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, making the state the latest of several to propose or advance legislation to ease the prohibitions on magic mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs. "Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article on Psychedelic Spotlight by Mark Reid: "In a bold display of progress, Texas legislators have introduced three new bills to advance the cause for psychedelic policy reform. Psychedelic research has been a hot topic for state governments in 2023. While most might see psychedelics (and larger drug decriminalization efforts) as an issue being led by Democratic representatives, the issue has actually seen a lot of bipartisan discourse and agreement. In a remarkable show of commitment to psychedelic policy reform, Texas lawmakers have presented three new bills in the state legislature..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - The Canadian government will allow four patients with incurable cancer to receive psilocybin therapy, which uses the drug found in the so-called "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms," to ease their end-of-life distress. The landmark decision by Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, marks the first time since 1974 that a legal exemption has been given in Canada for patients to access psychedelic treatment, according to a news release on Tuesday by TheraPsil, a non-profit organization working to help Canadians gain access to psilocybin therapy...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - The Canadian government will allow four patients with incurable cancer to receive psilocybin therapy, which uses the drug found in the so-called "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms," to ease their end-of-life distress. The landmark decision by Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, marks the first time since 1974 that a legal exemption has been given in Canada for patients to access psychedelic treatment, according to a news release on Tuesday by TheraPsil, a non-profit organization working to help Canadians gain access to psilocybin therapy...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

An article by Marison Carlino on the Reason Foundation states "Psychedelics legislation took off across the country this year. Lawmakers in about a dozen states have put forth legislation that would advance legal access to the drugs. Some states, like Illinois and New Jersey, are considering legislation that would create an Oregon-style regulated psychedelic market. Others, like California and Nevada, may be looking at a future of decriminalized possession of certain psychedelic substances. Regardless of the scope of actions being considered, one thing is certain: State legislators are becoming increasingly more open to the world of psychedelics."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article published by the New York Times by Brendan Borrell: "In recent years there has been a spate of research suggesting psychedelic drugs can help people manage mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, chronic pain or even eating disorders. But a growing body of data points to one as the leading contender to treat the intractable disease of substance abuse. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, has shown promise in limited early studies, not only in alcohol and harder drugs, but also nicotine - all of which resist long term treatment...."  Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article posted by Harvard Law Today by Brett Milano, "Drug use should be treated as a health rather than a legal issue, says California State Senator Scott Wiener '96 who has sponsored legislation to decriminalize the use and possession of psychedelic drugs in the state by those over 21."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Oregon is legalizing mushrooms. Ketamine can be delivered to your home. People are microdosing LSD to treat pandemic-related anxiety and Wall Street is pouring billions into companies that sell mind-altering drugs. It seems like psychedelics - though mostly still illegal - are everywhere. While the federal government does not recognize a medical use for most of these drugs and says they have potential for abuse, some of the most prominent universities in the world are studying four substances in particular: psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA and LSD. The bulk of available research suggests that these substances hold promise as part of larger treatment plans. There is also growing evidence that psychedelic drugs operate differently in the brain than addictive drugs, and advocates have been consistently calling for legalization. But psychedelics remain expensive and difficult to gain access to legally, unless you are part of a research study for mental health purposes."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Oregon is legalizing mushrooms. Ketamine can be delivered to your home. People are microdosing LSD to treat pandemic-related anxiety and Wall Street is pouring billions into companies that sell mind-altering drugs. It seems like psychedelics - though mostly still illegal - are everywhere. While the federal government does not recognize a medical use for most of these drugs and says they have potential for abuse, some of the most prominent universities in the world are studying four substances in particular: psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA and LSD. The bulk of available research suggests that these substances hold promise as part of larger treatment plans. There is also growing evidence that psychedelic drugs operate differently in the brain than addictive drugs, and advocates have been consistently calling for legalization. But psychedelics remain expensive and difficult to gain access to legally, unless you are part of a research study for mental health purposes."Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, psilocybin

"Psilocybin and MDMA are poised to be the hottest new therapeutics since Prozac. Universities want in, and so does Wall Street. Some worry a push to loosen access could bring unintended consequences." Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, psilocybin

"Psilocybin and MDMA are poised to be the hottest new therapeutics since Prozac. Universities want in, and so does Wall Street. Some worry a push to loosen access could bring unintended consequences." Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, psilocybin

"Psilocybin and MDMA are poised to be the hottest new therapeutics since Prozac. Universities want in, and so does Wall Street. Some worry a push to loosen access could bring unintended consequences." Click Here to Read the Full Article

In this article from NeuroscienceNews.com, Brandon Kim provides insights into shift from psychedelic drugs being taboo, to a clinically and medically valuable. Click Here to Read the Article

"CNN - Scientists have for the first time visualized the effects of LSD on the human brain. Using brain scanning and other techniques, researchers at Imperial College London were able to show what happens when someone takes the popular (and illegal) psychedelic, scientific-name Lysergic acid diethylamide. The findings may indicate how the drug produces the complex visual hallucinations often associated with its use."Click Here to Read the Full Article

In this article, Jeffrey Kluger reviews how "in a Phase 3 trial led by neurologist Jennifer Mitchell of the University of California, San Francisco, treatment with three doses of MDMA-accompanied by one-on-one therapy-over the course of 18 weeks was significantly more effective in treating symptoms of PTSD than the same talk therapy accompanied by a placebo." Click Here to Read the Full Article Image by rudamese from Pixabay

In this article, Jeffrey Kluger reviews how "in a Phase 3 trial led by neurologist Jennifer Mitchell of the University of California, San Francisco, treatment with three doses of MDMA-accompanied by one-on-one therapy-over the course of 18 weeks was significantly more effective in treating symptoms of PTSD than the same talk therapy accompanied by a placebo." Click Here to Read the Full Article Image by rudamese from Pixabay

Tiptoeing at a 'Toad Ceremony' From the article in the New York Times, author Terence McGinley recounts a photographers experience "photographing a psychedelic ceremony in Huntsville, Texas, for a Times article published this month on the Sonoran desert toad and its prized poison." Read the Article

Ayahuasca, Trauma

In an article from Psychology Today, Monnica T Williams Ph.D discusses how "racial trauma has been consistently underrepresented in research studies over the years, resulting in a lack of funding and effort in developing effective treatments for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC)."  The article reviews how plant medicines like Ayahuasca, Psilocybin mushrooms, and Peyote could be used as a tool for healing the psychological impacts of racial trauma. Click Here to Read the Full Article

anorexia, Ketamine, psychology today

In an article on Psychology Today, Melinda Karth, M.S., M.A. discusses eating disorders (ED) and the challenges faced with treating both the biological and psychological components of the disorder. The article reviews how the medical history of Ketamine, and how it could be used to treat patients suffering from ED. Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Deseret News by Katie McKellar, "A Utah bill that would narrowly legalize medical psilocybin - more commonly known as "magic mushrooms" - has hit a dead end. At least for now. "Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Forbes by Ty Roush, "Virginia state legislators chose not to advance a bill Thursday that would have allowed doctors to prescribe psilocybin, a psychedelic drug produced by mushrooms of the same name, as more states and cities argue the drug-which is illegal at the federal level-could be used to combat mental health conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published in the Seattle Times by Esmy Jimenez, "Washington psychonauts will have to wait at least another year before therapy using psychedelic mushrooms is broadly legalized in the Evergreen State, but legislators could still approve a small pilot program to give veterans and first responders early access to the treatment."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to Edwin Mbothe, "DecrimPovertyDC, a coalition of progressive activist groups, has sparked nationwide attention with its ambitious effort to push for drug policy reform in the nation's capital. The coalition has brought together a range of organizations that all share a common goal- to see an end to the mass incarceration of people caught up in the "War on Drugs." When it comes to drug policies, the United States is woefully behind the times. While other countries have been moving towards a more public health-centered approach, the United States continues to invest billions of dollars in a failed "war" that has led to the mass incarceration of thousands of people, particularly low-income and marginalized communities." Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article published by KOIN by Amanda Arden, "Washington state is creeping toward legalizing psilocybin services, perhaps following in Oregon's footsteps. The House passed a bill Tuesday that would allow the state to establish a framework for use of the drug."Click Here to Read the Full Article

From an article published by the New York Times by Dana G. Smith: "As MDMA and psilocybin treatments become more mainstream, the therapy component has come under scrutiny. Here's what's common in many sessions - and what's not."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article in Scientific American written by Eddie Jacobs: "How would you feel about a new therapy for your chronic pain, which-although far more effective than any available alternative-might also change your religious beliefs? Or a treatment for lymphoma that brings one in three patients into remission, but also made them more likely to vote for your least preferred political party?...."Click Here to Read the Full Article

In an aticle from MedicalNewsToday, Zawn Villines defines what psychedelic therapy is, discusses how it works, reviews the different types, and lists the various benefits and risks of the practice. Click Here to Read the Full Article

law, legal, legislation

In this article by Webb Wright for Double Blind Magazine, Wright says "Psychedelics are being embraced in a growing number of places around the world. But where is psychedelic-assisted therapy actually accessible?" The article explains what Wright refers to as the "Psychedelic Renaissance" and what this means for the future of Psychedelics-Assisted Psychotherapy. Click Here to Read the Full Article 

KAP, Ketamine

Why Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Has Gone Mainstream From the article on Forbes.com, Will Yakowicz recounts the goals and experience of Sam Wilson with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Yakowicz discusses the logistics of KAP, including research and trends we can expect to see with Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. Read the full article for these insights. Read the Full Article

According Dr. Scott Shannon (a psychiatrist who provided MDMA-assisted therapy in MAPS' first Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD), "In the 30 years since the pharmaceutical revolution began, psychiatry may be the only medical field to lose ground to its diseases," says Scott Shannon, M.D. "Until MDMA, perhaps."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According Dr. Scott Shannon (a psychiatrist who provided MDMA-assisted therapy in MAPS' first Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD), "In the 30 years since the pharmaceutical revolution began, psychiatry may be the only medical field to lose ground to its diseases," says Scott Shannon, M.D. "Until MDMA, perhaps."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Ayahuasca, a vomit-inducing hallucinogenic brew, draws thousands of people each year - including former soldiers - to jungle retreats that have become an unlicensed and unregulated mental health marketplace." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Ayahuasca, a vomit-inducing hallucinogenic brew, draws thousands of people each year - including former soldiers - to jungle retreats that have become an unlicensed and unregulated mental health marketplace." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"A former US Marine said she hoped to connect with the spirit of her mother, who killed herself 11 years ago. An Army veteran said she had been sexually assaulted by a relative as a child. A handful of veterans said they had been sexually assaulted by fellow servicemembers. The wife of a Navy bomb disposal expert choked up as she lamented that years of unrelenting combat missions had turned her husband into an absent, dysfunctional father."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - While magic mushrooms are known for their hallucinogenic effects, they may also have a role to play in the treatment of some mental health problems. Or they might, if they weren't illegal in most states. Oregon has become the first US state to make psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings.They have more evidence for their case with a new small study of 24 adults with major depression that published this week in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, which found that two doses of psilocybin led to a large reduction in depressive symptoms." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - While magic mushrooms are known for their hallucinogenic effects, they may also have a role to play in the treatment of some mental health problems. Or they might, if they weren't illegal in most states. Oregon has become the first US state to make psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings. They have more evidence for their case with a new small study of 24 adults with major depression that published this week in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, which found that two doses of psilocybin led to a large reduction in depressive symptoms." Click Here to Read the Full Article

In an article by Edwin Mbothe on Ketamine News, "The Connecticut Public Health Committee unanimously approved a bill (House Bill 5396) that, if passed into law, would pave the way for the use of psilocybin and MDMA in the treatment of mental health issues. Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms," while MDMA, also known as "molly" or ecstasy, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that alters mood and perception."Click Here to Read the Full Article

In this article in NBC News, Daniel Arkin discusses how Denver Citizen Kevin Matthews is "now leading a citizen-sponsored campaign to effectively decriminalize the psychedelic substance in "magic mushrooms" in Denver. Initiative 301, as it's known locally, goes up for a vote Tuesday."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article by Thomas Peipert, "DENVER (AP) - Colorado voters have passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older and to create state-regulated "healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision. Colorado becomes the second state, after Oregon, to vote to establish a regulated system for substances like psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogens found in some mushrooms. The initiative, which would take effect in 2024, also will allow an advisory board to add other plant-based psychedelic drugs to the program in 2026."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article by Thomas Peipert, "DENVER (AP) - Colorado voters have passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older and to create state-regulated "healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision. Colorado becomes the second state, after Oregon, to vote to establish a regulated system for substances like psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogens found in some mushrooms. The initiative, which would take effect in 2024, also will allow an advisory board to add other plant-based psychedelic drugs to the program in 2026."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to this article on Marijuana Moment by Kyle Jaeger, "The governor of Colorado has officially signed a bill to create a regulatory framework for legal psychedelics under a voter-approved initiative. About three weeks after the legislature passed the measure from the Senate president, Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed the legislation into law on Tuesday."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Alcohol, alcohol dependence, Alcoholism, psilocybin

In this article in Psychology Today by Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D and Charles Zorumski MD, the authors review Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and how Psilocybin may be beneficial for those suffering from AUD. The authors review the research that shows "that two doses of psilocybin administered one month apart and coupled with psychotherapy may substantially diminish the severity of alcohol dependence for a significant number of individuals." Click Here to Read the Full Article

alcohol dependence, Alcoholism, psilocybin

In this article in Psychology Today by Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D and Charles Zorumski MD, the authors review Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and how Psilocybin may be beneficial for those suffering from AUD. The authors review the research that shows "that two doses of psilocybin administered one month apart and coupled with psychotherapy may substantially diminish the severity of alcohol dependence for a significant number of individuals."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Do you ever find yourself worrying about an upcoming situation, even though similar past experiences have worked out fine? Or do you worry about your relationship or finances in a way that is out of proportion with your actual circumstances? These are classic symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Treatment for the conditions are wide-ranging, from prescription drugs to counseling and therapy, but none have proven to have a universal effect." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Do you ever find yourself worrying about an upcoming situation, even though similar past experiences have worked out fine? Or do you worry about your relationship or finances in a way that is out of proportion with your actual circumstances? These are classic symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Treatment for the conditions are wide-ranging, from prescription drugs to counseling and therapy, but none have proven to have a universal effect." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Do you ever find yourself worrying about an upcoming situation, even though similar past experiences have worked out fine? Or do you worry about your relationship or finances in a way that is out of proportion with your actual circumstances? These are classic symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Treatment for the conditions are wide-ranging, from prescription drugs to counseling and therapy, but none have proven to have a universal effect." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"CNN - Do you ever find yourself worrying about an upcoming situation, even though similar past experiences have worked out fine? Or do you worry about your relationship or finances in a way that is out of proportion with your actual circumstances? These are classic symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Treatment for the conditions are wide-ranging, from prescription drugs to counseling and therapy, but none have proven to have a universal effect." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced Senate Bill 58, to decriminalize the possession and personal use of certain psychedelic drugs. SB 58 is backed by a broad coalition, including combat veterans. Research from top medical universities shows that these substances can have significant benefits, particularly for treating mental health and substance use disorders, and decriminalizing their personal use is part of the larger movement to end the racist War on Drugs and its failed and destructive policies." Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article posted by the LA Times by Laura Newberry: "Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved those drugs for medical use, they are well on their way. Ketamine, the final stop on our psychedelic sojourn, has a notable advantage over the others - it's legal. The number of ketamine clinics in the U.S. has risen from a few dozen to several hundred in the past few years, thanks to the soaring interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy."Click Here to Read the Full Article

Excerpt from an article written and published by Psychedelic Spotlight: "California is set to join the list of states spearheading a new era in mental health treatment, following the approval by state senators on Wednesday of a bill that would legalize natural psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms and DMT, as well as their facilitated use. Supporters of psychedelic therapy have achieved an important victory with a 21-16 voting, as the bill aims to provide greater access to these substances, which can assist in dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The bill will progress to the Assembly for further review..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously passed Senate Bill 1454 during a public hearing on Monday. Several healthcare professionals testified in support of the bill, which also garnered support from the governor's office. Tia Hartsock, executive director of the Office of the Governor's Office of Wellness and Resilience, said it is very important to have a fluid conversation about the use of psilocybin." Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to this article published by  the New Jersey Law Journal, "New Jersey's past success legalizing and regulating controlled substances, combined with growing national and international legislative momentum favoring access to psilocybin, makes it likely that the act or similar legislation will proceed in the Garden State. "Click Here to Read the Full Article

"On a recent Friday night, a dozen seekers in loosefitting attire, most in their 20s and 30s, climbed a flight of steps of a mixed-used community space in Bushwick, Brooklyn. After arranging yoga mats and blankets on the floor, they each paid $150, listened to a Colombian shaman and his assistant welcome them in Spanish and English, signed a disclaimer, and accepted large plastic takeout-style containers for vomiting. Then, one at a time, each got up to receive a cup of thick brownish liquid with a muddy herbal taste. It was ayahuasca (eye-uh-WAH-skuh) tea, a hallucinogenic brew from the Amazon that they hoped would open them to personal insights through optic and auditory hallucinations."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Call it group therapy in 2015 Los Angeles. At a Topanga Canyon house, a shaman from the Amazon River region has been flown in for an expenses-paid weekend, to the tune of up to $10,000, to perform an ayahuasca ceremony. Somber people sit on mattresses in a circle on the floor, buckets and rolls of toilet paper placed ominously in front of them, with the occasional crystal decorating the tableau. The man in the middle wears Peruvian cottons and feathers in his hair and is called an ayahuascaro or curandero, as shamans are known in the Amazon. "Click Here to Read the Full Article

Anxiety, depression

Are Psychedelics Our Most Promising New Treatments for Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction? From the article on Town & Country Magazine by Paul Tullis, "A slew of scientific trials-and eager investors-indicate that hallucinogens may be the key to curing our most stubborn scourges." Read the Full Article

KAP, Ketamine

An Introduction to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy From the article on Psychology Today,  Vanessa Lancaster discusses Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as "an alternative approach to mental health care".Vanessa Lancaster is a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist, and provides her insight into the practice including what patients can expect, who may benefit, and what the research says about the practice. Read the full article for a great introduction to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Read the Full Article

MDMA, Military, psilocybin, PTSD, veterans

"The Department of Veterans Affairs recently began offering psychedelic substances to patients as a part of clinical trials, a major step in the quest to determine the therapeutic potential of illegal drugs the federal government has long deemed dangerous.  At least five trials are underway or being planned by a handful of government clinicians who see potential in using psychedelic experiences combined with psychotherapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other conditions endemic among veterans of recent wars."Click Here to Read the Full Article

According to an article in Smithsonian Magazine by Sarah Kuta, "On January 1, Oregon became the first state in the nation to allow adults to use psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms. Now, anyone aged 21 and older can legally access psilocybin services in Oregon-which means they'll be able to consume psychedelic mushrooms under the supervision of a state-certified facilitator."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Hundreds of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress have recently contacted a husband-and-wife team who work in suburban South Carolina to seek help. Many are desperate, pleading for treatment and willing to travel to get it. The soldiers have no interest in traditional talking cures or prescription drugs that have given them little relief. They are lining up to try an alternative: MDMA, better known as Ecstasy, a party drug that surfaced in the 1980s and '90s that can induce pulses of euphoria and a radiating affection. Government regulators criminalized the drug in 1985, placing it on a list of prohibited substances that includes heroin and LSD. But in recent years, regulators have licensed a small number of labs to produce MDMA for research purposes."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Hundreds of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress have recently contacted a husband-and-wife team who work in suburban South Carolina to seek help. Many are desperate, pleading for treatment and willing to travel to get it. The soldiers have no interest in traditional talking cures or prescription drugs that have given them little relief. They are lining up to try an alternative: MDMA, better known as Ecstasy, a party drug that surfaced in the 1980s and '90s that can induce pulses of euphoria and a radiating affection. Government regulators criminalized the drug in 1985, placing it on a list of prohibited substances that includes heroin and LSD. But in recent years, regulators have licensed a small number of labs to produce MDMA for research purposes."Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, PTSD, Trauma

"A new study shows that MDMA, known as Ecstasy or Molly, can bring relief when paired with talk therapy to those with severe post-traumatic stress disorder." Click Here to Read the Full Article

MDMA, PTSD

"A new study shows that MDMA, known as Ecstasy or Molly, can bring relief when paired with talk therapy to those with severe post-traumatic stress disorder."Click Here to Read the Full Article

KAP, Ketamine, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, telehealth

"WASHINGTON -For Greg Rice, ketamine was transformative. The drug, approved decades ago to sedate patients during surgery, was increasingly being used to treat mental health conditions such as his depression. Since his teenage years, Rice had cycled through a long list of medications. Searching for relief, he sometimes abused his prescriptions and experimented with LSD, psychedelic mushrooms and other illicit substances. At a particularly low point after a breakup a few years ago, Rice, 38, bought ketamine through back channels and injected it nightly for two weeks. The psychedelic like journeys seemed to loosen the grip of his negative thoughts..."Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Although PTSD became an official diagnosis in 1980, doctors still have not found a surefire cure. "Some treatments are not helpful to some veterans and soldiers at all," said Dr. Stephen Xenakis, a psychiatrist and retired U.S. Army brigadier general. As many as half of veterans who seek help do not experience a meaningful decline in symptoms, and two-thirds retain their diagnosis after treatment. But there is growing evidence that MDMA - the illegal drug known as Ecstasy or Molly - can significantly lessen or even eliminate symptoms of PTSD when the treatment is paired with talk therapy." Click Here to Read the Full Article

"Although PTSD became an official diagnosis in 1980, doctors still have not found a surefire cure. "Some treatments are not helpful to some veterans and soldiers at all," said Dr. Stephen Xenakis, a psychiatrist and retired U.S. Army brigadier general. As many as half of veterans who seek help do not experience a meaningful decline in symptoms, and two-thirds retain their diagnosis after treatment. But there is growing evidence that MDMA - the illegal drug known as Ecstasy or Molly - can significantly lessen or even eliminate symptoms of PTSD when the treatment is paired with talk therapy." Click Here to Read the Full Article

addiction

"At the age of 55, Cesar was struggling with vaping, a cannabis habit, escapism, and genuinely hitting an existential Crisis. Microdosing helped. Vaping, for many, has become an accepted and preferred way to consume their nicotine or cannabis, but after  microdosing psilocybin, 55-year-old TV producer Cesar recognized that there had to be a more elevated experience.."Click Here to Read the Full Article

KAP, Ketamine, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy

This article posted in Psychology Today, Wendy Boring-Bray, DBH, LPCC provides an introduction to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP),  and reviews what you need to know about this "promising therapeutic tool" to treat mental illness. Click Here to Read the Full Article