In Australia and overseas there’s a push to make psychedelic drugs part of mainstream medicine for the treatment of trauma and other mental health conditions.
“We see a lot of people out there who are suffering, and we’re determined to bring these therapies into the medical system, so psychiatrists can use them with their patients.
That’s what we’re trying to do.” Psychedelic drug therapy advocate
Results from clinical trials are promising for PTSD sufferers where conventional treatments have failed.
“It shows that two in three people responded to the treatment. They didn’t meet criteria for PTSD anymore. And those were people that were treatment resistant.” Psychologist
On Monday Four Corners investigates the world of psychedelic drugs, including the underground supply which is being sourced by increasing numbers of people who don’t want to wait for the clinical trials to be concluded.
“The level of demand is huge. A lot of people are self-medicating, especially the psilocybin mushrooms, whether micro-dosing or, to different degrees, macro-dosing.” Psychedelic drug supplier
Reporter Elise Worthington also investigates the dark side of this form of therapy where disturbing cases of abuse and malpractice are emerging in both clinical trials and the underground.
“There’s everything from people being dosed without their consent, to people being encouraged to sleep with practitioners in exchange for services, to people being pressured to participate in group contexts, and so-called rituals that they otherwise wouldn’t have engaged in.” Underground researcher
There’s now pressure in the industry to downplay the negative stories by those who stand to profit from the business of psychedelics.
“There’s a sense of, well, don’t say anything bad about psychedelics because it’ll harm the movement and we’ll stop progressing . .
And if that goes unchecked, then you could just have a situation where a lot of vulnerable people are being taken advantage of.” Whistle-blower
Psyched Up, reported by Elise Worthington, goes to air on Monday 25th July at 8.30pm.
It is replayed on Tuesday 26th July at 11.00pm and Wednesday 27th July at 10am. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
