From Adults to Adolescents: Bridging Scientific Potential and Evidence-Based Paths for Psychedelic-Assisted Interventions
Psychoactives January 6, 2026 Mayank Gupta, Aaron Krasner, Priyal Khurana 1 citation
Adolescent mental health conditions, especially treatment-resistant depression, pose a growing public health problem with high rates of illness, impairment, and suicide risk. Psychedelic-assisted therapies show strong antidepressant effects in controlled adult trials, but extending this work to adolescents is scientifically compelling yet ethically complex due to ongoing brain development and lack of pediatric data. This review examines the history of psychedelic use, summarizes adult findings on effectiveness and mechanisms, explores adolescent-specific opportunities and risks, and considers applications in co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders. The authors do not advocate for premature clinical adoption but highlight translational gaps, developmental risks, and research priorities needed to responsibly assess these approaches in youth.