Psilocybin: Innovation For Mental Health Leave a comment
About 25 years ago, fluoxetine, better known by one of its trade names, Prozac, was approved to treat conditions such as depression. Since then, there have been some innovations in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For most of these conditions, progress has been minimal. However, research into the use of psychedelics to treat a variety of conditions is gaining more and more momentum.
Most psychedelics have their origins in nature and have been used by indigenous cultures for thousands of years, some others may be manufactured in laboratories. In any case, most of these psychedelic substances are controlled substances, meaning their use is subject to very strict legal controls and health regulations. These restrictions have been in place for decades. But now, the speed at which the regulatory landscape is changing is impressive.
The US government provides a prime example; In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to the Compass Pathway’s psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients with depression resistant to conventional treatment. This laid the groundwork for future studies on the medical benefits of psilocybin, the psychoactive component in “magic” mushrooms.
Oregon is currently preparing to become the first US state to offer controlled access to psilocybin to the public, with it being available to the public in mid to late 2023. mushrooms” starting in 2024. And, on December 16, California State Senator Scott Weiner of San Francisco introduced a bill to legalize psilocybin and other psychedelics.
A good example is also the Dutch government, which has until recently maintained a prohibitive stance towards psychedelic research. But, in early 2022, the country’s health ministry announced approval of research into psychedelic therapies and increased budgets for research into its use in mental health.
Most recently, Quebec pushed the approval of psychedelic therapies by becoming the first medical agency in Canada to publicly fund psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. This measure marks a before and after in the recognition of psilocybin and its medical use. A decision that represents a great step forward for the use of assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin as a valid medical treatment and gives patients greater access to improving their mental health status.
Despite the growing interest in psychedelic treatments in Mexico and many parts of the world, psilocybin or psilocin are still controlled substances, meaning that it is illegal to possess or consume them. It is paradoxical and a lost opportunity for Mexico that despite being one of the regions with the greatest diversity of psilocybin mushrooms and the cradle of ancestral knowledge about their medicinal uses, we are lacking in research efforts on the medicinal applications of these substances. are not included. ,
We cannot be left behind, we must legislate with an innovative approach and be forward looking to be able to propose various solutions to public health problems which have been facing a significant gap for years.
