Psychedelic Therapeutics for Adolescents: Ethics, Safety, Opportunities, and Equipoise
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry July 1, 2025 Samuel Dotson, James Luccarelli 3 citations
The authors question the assumption that psychedelics are safe for adolescents, a premise advanced by Jeffrey et al. who argued that because psychedelics have a favorable safety profile in adults, teenagers with near-adult neurodevelopment could be safely treated. While agreeing that new psychopharmaceuticals for adolescents are urgently needed, the authors challenge this safety assumption, citing growing evidence of risks associated with psychedelics in adult trials.