Psychedelics, studied from 1943 to 1970 as potential treatments for mental health disorders including addiction, were halted in the early 1970s by the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. As psychedelic-assisted therapy develops, nurses can decide their role in clinical and scholarly research. The article proposes that nurses become familiar with the history, language, and scientific findings of psychedelic research, learn about existing therapy and research resources, examine their own thoughts and judgments about therapeutic psychedelic use, and consider nursing's potential role in these therapies going forward.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for treating common mental health disorders, yet many midwives lack knowledge about its benefits, best practices, and integration into treatment plans. This review describes current applications and legal status of psychedelic medicines, and explores how midwifery practice could expand with further training. It also highlights disparities in research and treatment access for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations, who have been historically excluded from this field.