The term “psychedelic” is a derivation of the Greek words psykhe (mind) and deloun (to reveal or make visible), which combine to mean “to reveal the mind.” Psychedelic drugs, in turn, refer to various substances that produce strong altering effects on conscious experiences. There are several categories of psychedelic drugs. Classic psychedelics, found in plants and mushrooms, include drugs like LSD and psilocybin, while entactogens are serotonin-releasing agents like MDMA. This essay will briefly discuss the history of psychedelic therapy, its trajectory of popularity in the twentieth century, followed by an overview of its practices to date and an argument in support of its use in local settings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although psychedelic drugs have been used for centuries for spiritual or folk healing across cultures, interest from a psychotherapy perspective only aroused in the 1950s. The foundation of the psychedelic drug revolution was the proposition that the drugs could help alter the experiences of distressed patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. The first known synthesis of psychedelic drugs was LSD by Albert Hoffman in the 1940s and helped pave the way for future clinical treatments. Driven by the belief that psychedelics could “serve as new tools to shorten psychotherapy,” medical research proceeded with much anticipation and expectation. Over the next decade, research into the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) became rampant, as psychedelic drugs were freely accessible to medical professionals. It has been estimated that for over 15 years, PAT was a common form of treatment, with more than tens of thousands of patients treated with psychedelic psychotherapy. Most of the research conducted was on LSD. Known then as Delysid, the drug was used in combination with psychotherapy to relieve alcohol dependence, anxiety and obsessive neurosis. One study exemplifying the effectiveness of LSD reported that, compared to 18% of the control group, 66% of patients treated with LSD abstained from alcohol. Further solidifying the power and value of psychedelics were the extraordinarily high remission rates, above 50%, in patients with chronic neuroses treated with LSD. Despite these optimistic results, enthusiasm for the research and use of psychedelics came to a screeching halt in the 1970s, when it became associated with the counterculture. Fear of psychedelics was exacerbated due to the slow increase in media reports about their dangers, although many were filled with misconceptions. Considered harmful to society, several acts such as the Controlled Substance Act were passed that prohibited drug distribution, ceased research, and imposed penalties for possession of any psychedelic drug in all nations. Such policies led to the downfall of PAT as most psychedelics were deemed to have no medical value or required strict approval. Given the controversial academic climate, pursuing psychedelic research was tantamount to career suicide. Since the beginning of the century, interest in this field has begun to rekindle. The resurgence in the popularity of psychedelic drug therapy began after a 25-year hiatus, largely thanks to European scientists, as well as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). ), which is an organization alat the helm of psychedelic research by providing not only funding but also working around legislation to advance psychedelic research. In one of the first revival studies, MAPS funded a study of MDMA, which included survivors of childhood sexual abuse and rape. The results showed that of 12 people undergoing two MDMA-assisted psychotherapies, nearly 85% showed improvements compared to only 25% in the placebo group. In light of these promising results, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Administrative Committee and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have issued a recommendation that psychedelic drug research resume as long as the same standards used for reviews are imposed. of other drugs. The agendas were stratified into three phases: first, gathering evidence on the drug's safety; next, exemplifying how these drugs can be used to treat medical conditions; finally, demonstrate that the medicine is as effective, if not more so, than currently available drugs or treatments. To their credit, researchers have learned from past mistakes; altering the research paradigm by including control comparison groups, opting for substances perceived as having the highest probability of clinical efficacy, as well as ensuring the elicitation of minimal negative impressions. One of the strongest proponents of psychedelic drug therapy would be its ability to treat depression. In a study conducted by Browne and Lucki (2013) among patients who did not respond to conventional antidepressants, a single dose of ketamine was shown to have rapid effects relieving depressive symptoms within a few hours. Furthermore, these effects were still present more than a week later. Ketamine aside, Carhart-Harris and colleagues (2017) found similar results in their study with psilocybin. Twenty patients with major depressive disorder of varying severity were administered two different doses of psilocybin. Post-treatment surveys conducted five weeks later showed a marked decrease in depressive symptoms among nearly half of the participants. Even more encouragingly, psychedelics have been associated with decreased suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. This is a vital point of consideration as lifetime suicide rates for those suffering from depression or untreated can be as high as 15%. Skeptics might point out that these results could be subject to bias due to participants' and experimenters' awareness of the drug. consumption and therefore effects of the participant or experimenter. However, a double-blind study found rapid improvements in those who did not respond to standard antidepressants, with 35% of patients feeling better one week after treatment compared with none in the placebo group. Biological explanations suggest that psychedelics may be effective due to alterations in the number and function of certain synaptic connections. Brain scans suggest that increased activity in brain circuits associated with negative emotionality and weakened connections with positive emotions contribute to the manifestation of depression. These findings help validate previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating those suffering from depression, particularly for those who struggle with conventional therapies. Psychedelics have been found to reduce anxiety in individuals. MDMA, in particular, has been reported to increase the effectiveness of treatment by strengthening the relationship and therapeutic alliancethrough increasing oxytocin levels, reducing avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations and allowing access to internal emotional states. Despite the limited number of studies, preliminary evidence supports the use of low doses of cannabidiol in reducing subjective anxiety and social phobia, thus suggesting possible effects if its full potential and mechanisms are discovered. There have also been encouraging findings that psychedelics can reduce anxiety and provide a sense of comfort to those who are nearing the end of their lives. In a randomized double-blind study, subjects with terminal cancer who had been diagnosed with some form of anxiety disorder were given psilocybin. Aside from the increase in mood that persisted for two weeks, there was a significant reduction in anxiety 3 months after treatment. Gasser, Kirchner, and Passie (2014) not only replicated these findings among subjects with terminal illness, but also found additional information reporting that subjects possessed more insightful and cathartic experiences, with many reporting an increase of more than 70% of the quality of life. Qualitative analyzes describe a psychotherapeutic journey of how psychedelics can work their magic through three experiences. Cognitively, problems are seen from a new perspective due to clear thinking and altered associations. Patients may also have a psychodynamic experience in which subconscious materials are brought to the surface. Understanding the symbolism of past conflicts can serve as a form of catharsis. Ultimately, the pinnacle of therapy comes from the psychedelic peak experience where there is a transcendence of time and space, loss of sense of self, significant new insights, and a sense of awe and awe. The culmination of these three experiences accumulates in the alteration of the psyche, providing individuals with new perceptions that tie their fears and thoughts together, thus allowing them to face and accept their inevitable death. This offers a humane perspective of psychedelic therapy that remains largely underreported in the media and is unknown to the masses, but is a crucial consideration that could influence government policies in allowing the use of psychedelic drugs in therapy. Psilocybin-assisted therapy has also been found to suppress addiction. Psilocybin administered to individuals eligible for alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV criteria resulted in a 50% decrease in active alcohol dependence. More importantly, these changes emerged after no significant improvements could be found across psychosocial measures (counseling without drug administration), suggesting the prevailing efficacy of psilocybin over non-psychedelic measures. Likewise, psilocybin is said to play a role in controlling smoking addiction. Participants given increasing doses of psilocybin cited vivid, positive insights into their personal identity as one of the primary reasons for quitting smoking. Through themes of interconnection and wonder, the reasons for smoking have failed. Furthermore, these experiences overshadowed any short-term withdrawal symptoms; also allowing addicts to reduce their addictive behaviors with fewer obstacles. Therefore, despite the concern surrounding the hallucinogenic nature of psychedelics, it is possible that they can actually be beneficial if the right doses are administered. Last but not least, patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have benefited from consuming psychedelics. Moreno e.