The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) opposes medically controlled access to MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies, citing safety concerns. However, a review of the RANZCP's references and current literature finds no evidence from the last 70 years that these substances, when administered in controlled clinical settings, cause mental illness or negative health outcomes. Instead, research shows MDMA and psilocybin are safe, non-toxic, non-addictive, and efficacious in such environments, with risks only in uncontrolled use. The RANZCP's position relies on outdated and misinterpreted evidence, and the authors warn that positive media coverage may encourage self-medication, underscoring ethical and social responsibilities.
Filipino adults in Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon Province seek folk healing due to family traditions, economic barriers to biomedical care, chronic recurring illnesses, and spiritual beliefs about illness causation. Healing is experienced as holistic, shaped by ritual practices, the sacred landscape of Mt. Banahaw, and trusting relationships with healers. Recovery is interpreted through embodied signs of improvement and strengthened faith rather than biomedical diagnosis. Participants navigate flexibly between folk and biomedical systems. The findings highlight the importance of culturally-sensitive nursing care that bridges traditional and biomedical health systems.