Psychedelic Treatments in Adolescent Psychopharmacology: Considering Safety, Ethics, and Scientific Rigor
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology – January 06, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelic therapies for adults, showing promise in psychopharmacology for conditions like PTSD and depression, are gaining traction in medicine and clinical psychology. Yet, for adolescents, there's a stark gap: zero recent trials. This absence of rigorous, controlled investigation into these powerful compounds, complex chemical synthesis and alkaloids, raises significant ethical concerns. Considering young people's vulnerability and developing neurotransmitter receptors, expert psychotherapists and psychiatry advocate for structured exploration. Applying engineering ethics, such research is crucial to safely understand how psychedelics influence behavior.
Abstract
Interest in psychedelic therapies for adults is rapidly growing, with substances like 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for posttraumatic stress disorder, psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, and lysergic acid diethylamide for generalized anxiety disorder showing promise. However, research on these therapies in children and adolescents is limited, with no recent trials. Despite this lack of scientific exploration, adolescents may still experiment with these substances for both recreational and therapeutic purposes as accessibility continues to increase. This raises significant concerns, as adolescents are a vulnerable population requiring heightened caution and safety measures. Therefore, we advocate for structured, safe, and well-controlled exploration of psychedelic therapies in adolescents.