This objection to psychedelic drug treatment is sad although predictable. Especially since one of the researchers voicing concerns states: "Initial results have been promising by most standards, yet many questions remain". Of course questions remain, and there will be no time in the future where questions will not remain, as consistent with any other medical compound used to treat the extremely complicated area of mental health.
As a layman, it seems that the cannabis and psilocybin have been placed on a higher threshold of proof than the pharma drugs. The inertia of misinformation and prejudice is unfortunately still with us. You only have to look at the recent research on SSRIs, which are probably the most prescribed mental health drugs on the planet, and have now been shown to be relatively ineffective. Why aren't these results on SSRIs now generating the same type of scrutiny as with psilocybin when they state: "Until these questions have been addressed in empirical research, the decision to increase public access outside of clinical trials is questionable, if not concerning”.
And, at a deeper level, we must be given the ability to choose our own course of action. Where is my bodily autonomy to determine my own treatment? How is the ability to medicate and numb the pain of severe mental health issues with alcohol allowed then? Or is it only a case of: well, the cat's out of the bag regarding alcohol so we have to allow it? I don't know how that could legally hold up in a court of law.
And lastly, a small part of my brain cynically mistrusts these researchers who exist in the massive money world of pharma drugs, and who's work is funded by grants.
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