Psychedelic-assisted therapies: The past, and the need to move forward responsibly
International Journal of Drug Policy May 25, 2019 John Gardner, Adrian Carter, Kerry O’Brien et al. 23 citations
Recent clinical studies suggest psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin could offer new treatments for mood and substance use disorders, but cultural stigma since the 1960s has impeded research, particularly in Australia, where no psychedelic therapy studies have occurred. This commentary recounts the historical stigma, reviews the current research context, and identifies barriers Australian researchers face, such as social and legal challenges. The authors argue that research is needed to clarify these barriers and develop strategies with stakeholders to enable clinical studies. This would allow Australian researchers to generate evidence on psychedelic therapies' efficacy and safety, and build local expertise for their potential implementation.