As we delve into innovative approaches to criminal justice reform and rehabilitation, one intriguing idea has been gaining attention: What if we provided individuals on parole with access to psychedelics? This proposal stems from growing evidence suggesting that psychedelics could offer significant benefits in treating mental health issues commonly faced by formerly incarcerated individuals.
Read MoreThis World Mental Health Day, it’s time to seriously consider decriminalizing psychedelic plants and fungi to fulfill the human right to mental health. Recent research shows psychedelics used in naturalistic settings provide significant improvements in areas like depression, anxiety, addiction, and burnout. While some argue psychedelics should be restricted to clinics, evidence indicates decriminalization could allow broader access to similar benefits with proper education and community support. Decriminalization enables equitable, affordable use so psychedelics’ potential for healing minds, nurturing personal growth, and reconnecting us with nature is not limited only to those who can pay. With rising mental health burdens worldwide, we must explore ethical, sustainable options. The research and history signal psychedelics could be an avenue to reclaiming universal mental wellbeing.
Read MoreIn this blog post, we discuss a recent study that examined the potential of ibogaine treatment for opioid use disorder. The study found significant reductions in withdrawal symptoms and drug use in patients, with some achieving abstinence for one month or longer after treatment. However, the post also highlights the potential risks associated with ibogaine use and emphasizes the need for further research on its safety and efficacy. The blog post is based on the scientific article.
Read MoreIn this blog post, we discuss a 2017 study that conducted a thematic and content analysis of the DMT experiences in a naturalistic field setting. The researchers identified recurring themes such as encounters with the self, profound insights, intense visualizations, and interconnectedness. The study highlights the importance of set and setting and opens up a discussion on the therapeutic potential of DMT. The blog post is based on the scientific article, and the author includes a disclaimer.
Read MoreIn this blog post, we discuss the groundbreaking REBUS (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics) and the Anarchic Brain model, which offers a unified framework for understanding the brain action of psychedelics. The model proposes that psychedelics temporarily disrupt the hierarchical organization of the brain, leading to the relaxation of high-level beliefs and increased influence of lower-level sensory information. This process is thought to promote psychological flexibility, enhance creativity, and facilitate therapeutic breakthroughs.
Read MoreSummary of Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors
Psychedelics have long been known to produce profound and lasting changes in consciousness, but the exact mechanisms behind these effects have remained elusive. Now, a groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science has shed light on how psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors. This finding challenges the traditional understanding of how serotonin works in the brain and has important implications for the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Furthermore, it provides a potential context for the endogenous production of the psychedelic compound DMT in the human brain.
Read MoreSummary of An encounter with the self: A thematic and content analysis of the DMT experience from a naturalistic field study
This article discusses the qualitative analysis of the effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic drug capable of producing intense experiences that challenge one's perception of self and reality. The study used in-depth interviews to explore the effects of DMT use on personal and self-referential experiences of the body, senses, psychology, and emotions. The study found that DMT use elicits profound and highly intense experiences across several categories, including sensory, emotion and body, space-time shifts, bodily effects, sensorial effects, psychological effects, and emotional effects. The study also explores the potential neural mechanisms and the promise of DMT as a psychotherapeutic agent.
Read MoreThe article "DMT Models the Near-Death Experience" explores the possibility that the psychedelic compound DMT, which is endogenously produced in the human brain, could be responsible for the profound and otherworldly experiences reported during near-death experiences (NDEs). The study examines the similarities between the subjective effects of DMT and the phenomenology of NDEs, including feelings of transcendence, mystical experiences, and encounters with otherworldly beings or entities. The authors propose that endogenous DMT release during NDEs could account for these experiences, and suggest further research is needed to explore this theory.
Read MoreSummary of Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs (2021).
This article explores a study investigating whether psychedelic drug use induces lasting changes in metaphysical beliefs. The results reveal significant shifts away from 'physicalist' or 'materialist' views, towards panpsychism and fatalism. The observed belief-shifts post-psychedelic use were positively correlated with improved mental health outcomes, implying that psychedelic-use may causally influence metaphysical beliefs. The implications of these findings are discussed, and the possibility of future research exploring these apparent effects is considered.
Read MoreSummary of A Single Belief-Changing Psychedelic Experience Is Associated With Increased Attribution of Consciousness to Living and Non-living Entities (2023).
Psychedelic experiences have been known to produce mystical or spiritual experiences, often leading to changes in beliefs. The article "A Single Belief-Changing Psychedelic Experience Is Associated With Increased Attribution of Consciousness to Living and Non-living Entities" explores how psychedelic drugs may change the attribution of consciousness to living and non-living entities. The study surveyed 1,606 respondents who endorsed a belief-changing psychedelic experience and found large increases in attribution of consciousness to various entities such as non-human primates, quadrupeds, insects, fungi, plants, and even inanimate objects. The study also found that higher ratings of mystical experience were associated with greater increases in the attribution of consciousness. This fascinating research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Read MoreSummary of A Single Belief-Changing Psychedelic Experience Is Associated With Increased Attribution of Consciousness to Living and Non-living Entities (2023).
Psychedelic experiences have been known to produce mystical or spiritual experiences, often leading to changes in beliefs. The article "A Single Belief-Changing Psychedelic Experience Is Associated With Increased Attribution of Consciousness to Living and Non-living Entities" explores how psychedelic drugs may change the attribution of consciousness to living and non-living entities. The study surveyed 1,606 respondents who endorsed a belief-changing psychedelic experience and found large increases in attribution of consciousness to various entities such as non-human primates, quadrupeds, insects, fungi, plants, and even inanimate objects. The study also found that higher ratings of mystical experience were associated with greater increases in the attribution of consciousness. This fascinating research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Read MoreSummary of Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression (2022)
In this phase 2 trial involving participants with treatment-resistant depression, psilocybin at a single dose of 25 mg, but not 10 mg, reduced depression scores significantly more than a 1-mg dose over a period of 3 weeks but was associated with adverse effects.
Read MoreSummary of More Realistic Forecasting of Future Life Events After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2018).
This study investigated the potential of psilocybin in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and found that the compound may have therapeutic potential in reducing pessimism bias, a rigid and negative outlook on future events. Psilocybin, when administered with psychological support, resulted in a significant decrease in pessimism bias in TRD patients, leading to a more accurate and positive outlook on future life events. The study suggests that psilocybin could offer hope for those who have not found relief from traditional treatments, highlighting the importance of psychological support in administering such a treatment. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of psilocybin for treating depression. This promising new avenue for treating TRD with psilocybin shows potential for helping those who have not found relief from traditional treatments.
Read MoreSummary of Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression (2021)
This study compared the effectiveness of psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms, to escitalopram, a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), for treating depression. The study involved 59 patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder and found that there was no significant difference in the antidepressant effects of psilocybin and escitalopram after six weeks of treatment. However, secondary outcomes generally favored psilocybin over escitalopram, suggesting that it could be a potential alternative to SSRIs for depression treatment.
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