Psychedelic Medicine: Is it a False Dawn or a Renaissance?

The article reviews current controversies around the medicinal use of psychedelics, noting that possession and use are universally criminalized and considered to have no medical use and high potential for abuse. There is dissensus about their use in treating mental disorders and a lack of compelling evidence proving efficacy. Their use has been limited to a handful of research centers due to criminalization, but evidence of efficacy in some resistant mental health diagnoses is building and becoming hard to ignore.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Aim: There has been renewed interest in “psychedelics” in the last 10 years and their usefulness in Psychiatric treatment explored. The aim of the article is to highlight current controversies surrounding psychedelics medicinal uses and address imminent international legislation changes and the effects these will have in the face of new evidence showing their efficacy in some resistant mental health diagnoses. Conclusion: Possession and use of drugs that fall under the category of psychedelics is criminalized universally. They are considered to have no medical use and high potential for abuse. The dissensus about their use in treatment of mental disorders continues and there is a lack of compelling evidence proving their efficacy. Their use has far been limited to a handful of research centers, due to their criminalization, but the evidence is building and becoming very hard to ignore.