Psychedelics that Heal and Harm – Their Therapeutic and Recreational Use
Pharmaceutical Science September 4, 2025 Faheema Aziz Wani, Irfan Ahmad Wani
Psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin, despite their low addiction risk and promising medical applications for conditions like PTSD, depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety, were classified as Schedule I substances under the US Controlled Substances Act of 1970 after their association with the 1960s counterculture led to moral panic and a collapse of scientific legitimacy. MDMA was similarly banned by 1985. Research cautiously resumed in the 1990s, led by institutions like Johns Hopkins University, revealing significant therapeutic potential. However, psychological risks when misused or administered without proper guidance persist, and cultural tensions and regulatory challenges remain.