Therapy on Acid

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of LSD or other psychedelics? For most, it could be something related to 11’s trauma in Stranger Things, or even a trippy VICE video on youtube or snapchat that was randomly recommended. The media sheds a negative light on psychedelics and has stigmatized these drugs to the point where misconception and hysteria plagues their reputation.

Now what if I told you that classic psychedelics such as LSD, DMT, and Psilocybin (mushrooms) are coming out of the counterculture and into the hands of therapists researching the powerful healing potential of these drugs.

Psychedelics such as LSD are highly stigmatized for their unpredictable nature and radical transformative effects on the mind. However, studies show that they have powerful benefits regarding addiction and treatment for mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Psychedelics should be reconsidered in the medical world as a legitimate form of treatment alongside current treatments.

Psychedelic therapy is still in the beginning stages and more research is being conducted in order to normalize this therapy and eliminate unknowns. Recently, the negative view of LSD has shifted, as a renewed interest in the mental health benefits led to an increase in research on psychedelic drugs. An article from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation states, “Now, emerging research is beginning to change the perception of LSD from a drug that can negatively affect mental health and wellbeing, to one that can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Its benefits are also being studied in relation to helping individuals who are trying to overcome drug dependency.” Therapists administer micro-doses of the chosen psychedelic to a subject in a safe and controlled environment. The aim of the session is to trigger a mystical-type experience that has the potential to change the value system and self image of the test subject (Fuentes et. al). These experiences have proved to help individuals suffering from mental illness such as addiction and depression and anxiety overcome their symptoms in a shorter time period that the current forms of treatment used today.

LSD is still considered a Schedule I drug which means that it is difficult to obtain. In the US, the government has five classifications for controlled substances based on their potential for abuse or use in medicine. The “worst” drugs are classified as “Schedule I” meaning they have a high potential for abuse and no use in medicine (Hartney). An article describing the status of LSD in research notes that “All classic psychedelics are considered to be ‘Schedule I,’ which means they are illegal to possess and use except for research and only if approved by the FDA and under licensure of the Drug Enforcement Administration, so they are not available for clinical use” (Yasgur). However, as more research is being conducted and more positive results are being produced, the likelihood of classic psychedelics becoming more normalized in the medical world is very probable.