Psychedelic Therapy: Recreational and Party Drugs for Mental Health

Psychedelics are famously known as recreational and party drugs. To many people, that’s how far the substances go. But, as time progresses, many experts continue to find more potential use for psychedelics in various health conditions.

Apparently, these drugs are more than just substances that offer a euphoric good time. Keep reading this article to understand the possible therapeutic benefits of various psychedelics.

Understanding Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelic therapy, or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), is a psychiatric practice that uses hallucinogenic substances to treat many conditions.

Generally, experts conduct psychedelic therapy to treat the following issues:

• Depression and anxiety
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

These therapies involve experts administering low to moderate doses of psychedelic drugs to patients. The good news is that the substances used in many of the treatments provide promising results.

The most common psychedelics used for therapies include:

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Throughout history, many people have seen different potentials for LSD, from recreational drugs to chemical weapons. Today, however, many experts believe LSD can help treat various mental health conditions.

For instance, a new study on LSD suggests that the psychedelic could reduce symptoms of stress-related anxiety. Human subjects of PAP with LSD generally showed happiness, trust, and empathy, among others.

The drug is also a strong contender for potentially treating alcoholism.

Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)

Many users buy shrooms online to consume psilocybin primarily for recreational or spiritual purposes.

Psilocybin is the known psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms. It’s an active ingredient that experts believe could be one of the keys to treating various mental health issues.

For example, studies found that psilocybin may be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Experts also believe that the compound has the potential to help with other issues like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction.

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Ecstasy has a reputation for being a famous party drug. But, beyond its recreational use, many phase-two clinical trials suggest that ecstasy can potentially treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some claim the drug can even treat PTSD symptoms for up to four years.

Meanwhile, there’s already a study that’s completed a phase-three trial. That means the drug is moving closer to authorized therapeutic use.

This particular study found that 67 percent of 90 participants with severe PTSD are no longer qualified for a diagnosis. Plus, 88 percent of the patients had reduced PTSD symptoms.

Ketamine

This substance, while legally used as an anesthetic, is also used as a party drug for its psychoactive effects. But, more than that, ketamine is the most-studied drug for treating mental health conditions.

Many studies on ketamine collectively suggest that the substance can help alleviate depression and suicidal thoughts. There are cases where emergency responders administer ketamine to those they’ve rescued from a suicide attempt.

The Promise of Psychedelics

The studies on psychedelics continue, and the results are promising, particularly for treating various mental health conditions.

Looking at recent findings, we could be expecting breakthroughs for psychedelics soon. While people see them as recreational drugs today, they could save countless lives globally tomorrow.