The medical community has taken up an interest with psychedelic drugs after discovering that they have medicinal properties. They can be used as treatments for a variety of illnesses and have demonstrated therapeutic benefits against mental health conditions.
Psychedelics are traditionally associated with recreational use because they cause euphoria and life-changing mental journeys. These factors have largely contributed to their classification as illegal drugs, which consequently suppressed any chances of these drugs going mainstream. Fortunately, medical researchers are exploring the potential benefits that psychedelics deliver especially as mental health treatment.
Psychedelics might be more effective than existing mental illness therapies
Doctors use Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs to treat mental illnesses. These drugs have been around since the 1980s and unfortunately, they are not very effective. SSRIs may also cause severe side-effects and can be quite addictive. The SSRI drawbacks recently encouraged resarchers to explore other potentially better treatment options.
Scientists found that psychedelics such as PSILOCYBIN, LSD, MDMA AND DMT have become popular for their healing properties. They have also captivated a lot of political interest. For example, Oregon regulators passed legislation that allows PSILOCYBIN’s legal use. Meanwhile, scientists have intensified their research to fully understand how psychedelics affect the brain and the body.
Scientists have so far observed incredible results as far as efficacy is concerned with psychedelics. They provide superior performance to SSRIs and these findings have encouraged investors to jump on board and support the psychedelic industry’s growth by funding startups in the segment. These factors highlight the aggressive changes that have taken place over the past few years. Psychedelics use was outlawed not so long ago along with other drugs especially in the 1980s at the peak of drug abuse in the U.S.
Favorable scientific findings backed by political and regulatory support provide the right ingredients for the psychedelic industry to leverage strong growth potential especially against depressive disorders. However, the benefits expand to other types of diseases and this is why these treatments have the potential to disrupt the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers are now focused on not only proving that psychedelics provide therapeutic benefits, but also that they can be safely used or consumed. Some startups such as Eleusis are developing safe use practices for psychedelics.
