Should Adolescents be Included in Emerging Psychedelic Research?

Adolescents should be included in research into psychedelic therapies such as psilocybin and MDMA, which have shown promise for treating mental disorders in adults. The growing mental health burden among young people creates a pressing need for novel interventions, and psychedelics pose low risk relative to existing psychiatric medications. Concerns about developmental risks and the complexity of informed consent are addressed: the lack of understanding about risks underscores the need for research, and an enhanced consent process can allow capable adolescents to participate. Including adolescents could substantiate innovative treatments that improve their clinical outcomes, long-term mental health, and quality of life.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recent evidence shows significant potential for therapies involving psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to improve clinical outcomes for patients experiencing various mental disorders. However, research to date focuses almost exclusively on adults. I argue that adolescents should be included in research into psychedelic therapies. First, I demonstrate the pressing need for novel interventions to address the growing mental health burden of adolescents, and I draw on empirical evidence to show that research into psychedelic therapies presents an opportunity to address this shortfall. Secondly, I argue that psychedelics pose low risk to young patients, particularly relative to existing psychiatric medications. I then address two major concerns specific to adolescent contexts. First, I address the risks of using psychedelic substances at earlier stages of physiological and cognitive development. I note that the lack of understanding of the risks underscores the need for including adolescents in research. I then address the added complexity of consent in the adolescent context. I highlight some additional concerns that should be addressed in an “enhanced” informed consent process for adolescents and defend the view that capable adolescents should be able to consent to psychedelic interventions. I ultimately hold that including adolescents in emerging psychedelic research has the potential to substantiate innovative treatments that could improve their clinical outcomes, long-term mental health and quality of life.