The frontiers of new psychedelic therapies: A survey of sociological themes and issues
Sociology Compass February 1, 2022 Timothy Andrews, Katie Wright 37 citations
Psychedelic compounds are nearing medical approval for treatment-resistant mental health disorders, offering a new paradigm for depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. This article applies a sociological lens to the medicalisation of psychedelic-assisted therapies, examining three key areas: the role of advocacy in destigmatising psychedelics and advancing research; issues of medicalisation and pharmaceuticalisation; and integration into healthcare systems. It highlights challenges and affordances for existing therapeutic models, regulation, and monetisation, and considers the socio-political context of the pharmaceutical industry, research, investment, and implementation. The work argues that the novelty, stigma, and regulatory hurdles of psychedelic therapies urgently require sociological scrutiny.