First magic mushroom trial for depression stalled because psilocybin still illegal.

[Os Cangaceiros]

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's first clinical trial designed to explore using a hallucinogen from magic mushrooms to treat people with depression has stalled because of British and European rules on the use of illegal drugs in research.

David Nutt, president of the British Neuroscience Association and professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, said he had been granted an ethical green light and funding for the trial, but regulations were blocking it.

"We live in a world of insanity in terms of regulating drugs," he told a neuroscience conference in London on Sunday.

He has previously conducted small experiments on healthy volunteers and found that psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms, has the potential to alleviate severe forms of depression in people who don't respond to other treatments.


Read more: http://medcitynews.com/2013/04/first-magic-mushroom-trial-for-depression-stalled-because-psilocybin-still-illegal/#ixzz2Q0ew4V5A

This is completely anecdotal, of course, but I've taken psilocybin on several occasions, including times when I've been depressed (not clinically depressed, just very sad and down on life), and it's invariably helped me. Even after the "trip" has weared off, I'd usually be left with a feeling of optimism that would sometimes last for days afterwards.

I'm not too familiar with the pharmacology of the drug, so I'm not sure why that is, it's just been my experience.

[Raúl Duke]

Even after the "trip" has weared off, I'd usually be left with a feeling of optimism that would sometimes last for days afterwards.

I've felt that too.

I support them doing more studies to look into this.

[Quail]

Even after the "trip" has weared off, I'd usually be left with a feeling of optimism that would sometimes last for days afterwards.

I've never taken mushrooms, but mescaline has left me with this same feeling. It's a shame that drug laws mean that it's so hard to do research into psychedelics for treating mental health issues. MDMA has shown promise for treating PTSD, and way back in maybe the 60s/70s a study suggested LSD could be effective for treating alcoholism.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Yeah, in regards to LSD, I remember reading about that on Cracked.com at one point:


And they're right. Studies show that once the walls are finished melting and you're done talking to the universe, your chances of staying away from alcohol will be dramatically increased post-trip. An extensive study done in the 1960s and '70s (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/09/could-lsd-treat-alcoholism/) showed that recovering alcoholics are much less apt to drink excessively, and some even stopped drinking entirely for several months.


And this wasn't just one test performed on a few dozen people trading one addiction for another -- six tests were done on over 500 participants, all based on administering a single dose of acid.
The LSD made the patients feel more confident, happy and satisfied with their lives, decreasing the feelings that led most of them to abuse alcohol in the first place. The effects lasted for about six months, at which point, if LSD were legal, the patients would be able to return to a treatment clinic for another dose, repeating the process until they were able to transition into (relative) sobriety.


from here (http://www.cracked.com/article_20023_5-illegal-drugs-with-surprisingly-wholesome-medical-uses.html)

[Tenka]

The LSD made the patients feel more confident, happy and satisfied with their lives, decreasing the feelings that led most of them to abuse alcohol in the first place. The effects lasted for about six months, at which point, if LSD were legal, the patients would be able to return to a treatment clinic for another dose, repeating the process until they were able to transition into (relative) sobriety.

Considering that such feelings often have a material basis, is this not just a case of replacing one dependency on emotional crutches with another, albeit safer and probably more effective, one? Of course all avenues should be researched without hindrance by either law or taboo, but such substitution in general doesn't seem to bear any real long-term solutions to anything. On a semi-related note, doesn't Alcoholics Anonymous try to "cure alcoholism" by getting you on the Jesus Juice instead?

[Klaatu]

I am not an overtly religious person, but I feel that God put these drugs on this Earth in order for them to be used ... wisely, of course, and for good purpose: as pain-killer, anti-depression, and joy-generating (even Jesus turned water into wine) ;)

Of course if you happen to be atheist, let's say that nature did this (or even aliens did this) :cool: There is good reason for drugs to be there, I am saying.

[Sasha]

I always go bad on shrooms, really really bad, but after I feel completly clensed of negativity etc. So I can safely say my use would never be recreational and still that (and all other drugs) should been legalised ages ago...

[Sasha]

Considering that such feelings often have a material basis, is this not just a case of replacing one dependency on emotional crutches with another, albeit safer and probably more effective, one? Of course all avenues should be researched without hindrance by either law or taboo, but such substitution in general doesn't seem to bear any real long-term solutions to anything. On a semi-related note, doesn't Alcoholics Anonymous try to "cure alcoholism" by getting you on the Jesus Juice instead?

No, I assume LSD works for adiction in the same way as it does for terminal ill patients, it stimulates introspection and acceptance.
Another addiction treatment halucogenic drug with lots of potential is ibogene ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine) but that one seems to actually cure opiate addictions

[Os Cangaceiros]

Considering that such feelings often have a material basis, is this not just a case of replacing one dependency on emotional crutches with another, albeit safer and probably more effective, one? Of course all avenues should be researched without hindrance by either law or taboo, but such substitution in general doesn't seem to bear any real long-term solutions to anything. On a semi-related note, doesn't Alcoholics Anonymous try to "cure alcoholism" by getting you on the Jesus Juice instead?

AA is not a Christian organization. It used to be affiliated with the church but broke from this long ago. It's true though that they encourage the acceptance of a "higher power" and are thus somewhat metaphysical, but this "higher power" can be pretty much whatever the addict wants it to be. I used to be in AA/NA so I can speak somewhat from experience on this issue.

edit: and ironically I'm also drtunk right now. Thanks AA!

[blake 3:17]

The group doing the most advocating around this is MAPS -- http://www.maps.org/ -- the founder Rick Strassman made a bit of a weird move early on giving people way too much DMT too fast but there's tons on the site.

And as always http://www.erowid.org/ for more resources

[Rugged Collectivist]

I don't understand. Drugs like morphine are legal for medical use but not recreational use. Why are shrooms any different?

[Sasha]

Different clasifications, hence why heroin dealers are switching to fenityl, far less severe prisonsentences...

[Os Cangaceiros]

Fentanyl has been known to kill users before the needle even leaves their arm, too, so that's another good example of how stupid drug laws are...

[Goblin]

I have never tried shrooms, but i have done salvia on several occasions, and it has had quite a good effect on my mood.

I would still love to try shrooms though. They grow on my local cemetery, so might pick some this fall.

[Art Vandelay]

I have never tried shrooms, but i have done salvia on several occasions, and it has had quite a good effect on my mood.

I would still love to try shrooms though. They grow on my local cemetery, so might pick some this fall.

Slavia is a much, much different drug then mush. Mush always leaves me feeling like 'life is so amazing' and shit like that, so I have no doubt it could be useful for depression. Also I'd be wary about just picking your own mush from the wild, wouldn't suggest that at all.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I have never tried shrooms, but i have done salvia on several occasions, and it has had quite a good effect on my mood.

I would still love to try shrooms though. They grow on my local cemetery, so might pick some this fall.

^have you ever seen the film "Svidd Neger"? There's a couple pretty funny scenes involving magic mushrooms in that movie. It's a good Norwegian movie.

[Art Vandelay]

Fentanyl has been known to kill users before the needle even leaves their arm, too, so that's another good example of how stupid drug laws are...

Fentanyl is what is used in 'hot shots' if I am not mistaken.

[Os Cangaceiros]

There was a case a while back, I think in the late 90's, of some kid in Kansas who was manufacturing fentanyl for the black market. It was so pure that a lethal dose was the equivalent of three grains of salt! :blink: They eventually traced that dude's batches to the deaths of literally hundreds of addicts across the eastern seaboard of the USA...I think the total death toll was close to 150 people.

[Goblin]

Slavia is a much, much different drug then mush. Mush always leaves me feeling like 'life is so amazing' and shit like that, so I have no doubt it could be useful for depression. Also I'd be wary about just picking your own mush from the wild, wouldn't suggest that at all.
Thanks! I'll keep that in mind:)

^have you ever seen the film "Svidd Neger"? There's a couple pretty funny scenes involving magic mushrooms in that movie. It's a good Norwegian movie.
I haven't seen it actually. But i have heard alot of good things about it. I'll give it a watch!