Stigma in drug research holding back new therapies
OpenAlex – October 10, 2022
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Therapy for mental illness is undergoing a radical shift, embracing drugs once considered illicit party substances. Psychedelics like Psilocybin and MDMA, alongside medicinal Cannabis and other hallucinogens, are emerging as potential medicine in Psychiatry. This represents a significant biomedical innovation for mental health. Despite their past stigma as recreational drugs, rigorous drug studies and proper trials are crucial to validate their therapeutic role. Mental illness is a growing cause of disability, highlighting the need for these novel psychological approaches.
Abstract
Therapy is turning to drugs previously known for being illicit party substances. But there’s no reason to abandon proper trials. A range of new therapies for mental illness were previously considered unthinkable — party drugs including ketamine, medicinal cannabis and psychedelics like MDMA, psilocybin and DMT. With mental health disorders a growing cause of disability […]