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I was old enough to remember the warnings about “bad trips” that haunt your mind, so I hesitated to be open about my search. Imagine my surprise when my friend told me that he had recently taken his first “trip” that would change his life.
I asked a real estate developer in Northern California, married with children, why he decided to try the psychedelic substance. “My work felt increasingly stagnant and meaningless,” he explained to me over a beer. Even though I had a lot of meditation and training on how to break the path, I still felt like I was off track.
He and others used these drugs on condition of anonymity because most of these psychedelics are schedule 1 substances, which means they are illegal to manufacture, purchase, possess or distribute.
When I told some of my friends about my interest in psychedelics, many said they had tried the drug and found many benefits: from alleviating anxiety to fighting depression to gaining spiritual insight and helping to reduce the fear of dying from some cancers.
They are hardly out. According to a new study by YouGov USA, “one in four Americans say they’ve tried at least one psychedelic drug; That’s about 72 million American adults. (The study included the previously mentioned drugs, LSD, mescaline, and salvia.) Did I miss out on my wish by not getting on board?
When I asked my psychiatrist to help improve my mental health, he was supportive, with two caveats: Do it with a trained therapist or guide, and do your best to make sure the material is what it says it is.
It’s hard not to see, hear, or read about the use of psychedelics these days, Michael Pollan’s best-selling book (and Netflix documentary) “How to Change Your Mind,” online psychedelic spa “trips,” underground ads for therapists (also known as “sitters” or (known as “guides”) include consciousness-expanding journey websites and a DIY online ketogenic program — via video conference with a therapist — that you can do at home. (Ketamine, also called Esketamine — sold as Spravato — was approved by the FDA in 2019 specifically for depression.)
Recent clinical trials and studies have gathered large headlines and demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions such as depression, addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. And more and more studies are underway.
Thinking but cautiously, I wanted to know: How should I approach this in a smart and safe way? I began by interviewing Rick Doblin, the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He reminded me that none of these generally illegal psychotherapists, except Katie, are approved by the FDA, so he’s only talking about “minimizing risks.”
“I don’t want people to think this is like a carnival ride,” he said. “There is always danger.”
Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, has done a lot of research on psychedelics and talked about the issue of safety. Until then, Hopkins’ clinical trials will examine people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe heart disease.
Like millions of Americans, I mentioned that I was taking an anti-depressant (SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), which he explained would probably neutralize the effects of psilocybin or MDMA. To part with psychedelics, he told me I’d need to taper off an SSRI first, which is better with medical supervision (and which I’ve had trouble with in the past).
He also warned me to contact his cardiologist (who texted me saying he knew nothing about the use of psychedelics) because I also have heart disease. In other words, these drugs are not for everyone.
Despite publicly testifying about the positive medical effects of psychedelic use, Johnson reiterated that “there are risks and it’s illegal.” Was he trying to discourage me? “I wouldn’t encourage anyone to do this on their own,” he said.
After researching this column, I have no desire to take this trip on my own. But where do I start, assuming I have a guide or a therapist?
Doblin suggested that anyone with a “clinical indication” (such as depression, PTSD or anxiety) should go to ClinicalTrials.gov and possibly participate in nearby studies. Recently, when I checked the database for “psilocybin” studies in the United States, 67 trials came up. All are conducted at reputable academic medical centers, which means the studies are conducted with pure drugs, FDA approved, and licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which means the trials have regulatory approval.
What about those who do not have clinical symptoms, but are on a spiritual quest? Here are the ideas I collected:
Setting up and setting up; I’ve heard this phrase over and over again, referring to the need for common sense and a relatively safe environment. For obvious reasons, Johnson called the roof of a tall building a bad idea, as were cars or sharp objects around it. “The most important thing is that you feel safe, comfortable, and not disturbed,” says Robert Mitchell, who has practiced psychiatry and administered herbal medicine for 30 years and has served “hundreds of clients.” Based in Los Angeles, he says clients often rent a cabin in the Santa Monica Mountains that serves as a “sanctuary.”
Find an experienced, trusted therapist: If you are looking for psychic guidance, word of mouth can be helpful. My friend, the real estate developer, said, “For the first time, I feel determined to recommend that others seek guidance, get educated by someone they trust. Hopkins Johnson urges people not to take any of these psychiatric medications alone; Although there are still risks, there is less risk when someone who knows about the substance and its size is there. (This may be especially important for psilocybin mushrooms, which are known to have a large difference in their abilities.) New programs are available, such as the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Research Certificate Program at California Institute for Integrated StudiesIntended to serve the growing need for trained psychotherapists to meet demand.
Ask questions in advance: Many therapists include a preparation session before any trip or treatment begins. Questions to discuss in the preparation session include the therapist’s background and expertise, your desire to take psychiatric medication (and which one), your personal health history, and how you might deal with the problem at hand (such as medication side effects). or “bad” trip), the source of the drug, and of course, the payment. A Colorado woman gave me this advice, “I make sure to work with a therapist who has experience and a clear protocol for using psychedelics, including pre-trip discussions and post-trip integration appointments.
Know what to take: Dublin There is one DEA-licensed facility in the United States: Drug Detection Laboratories. It receives anonymous samples of illegal drugs and analyzes them and puts the results online. (They send it with a specific code and pay for analysis.) Barring that, you want to talk to potential guides about the source of the substance. Mitchell told me he knew where the psilocybin mushrooms were grown and could vouch for their purity. Finally, a friend who had two sessions of psilocybin said he “had to trust the instructions and the trust that was created.” That will always be imperfect.
Homework: MAPS is a non-academic, non-profit group whose first Phase 3 study — on the effective use of psilocybin for severe PTSD cases — was published last year in Nature Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal. The organization publishes information about the functions, uses, and legality of psychedelics. An introductory course, offering psychedelic basics. Another resource is the “MAPS Code of Ethics for Psychedelic Psychotherapy,” which discusses psychological and physical risks.
Am I going on a psychedelic trip?
I am reading everything I can and talking about their experiences. I also remember the legal issues. Yes, Pollan and others are trying psychedelics and writing about their experiences — and they’re not getting caught or out of a job or suffering from pain — but that shouldn’t be taken as a carte blanche for the rest of us.
I’ll be back here in a few months, so stay tuned.
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