Psychedelic Therapy Psychedelic or Hallucinogenic

Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs are drugs, which lead users to form hallucinations or imagine that they hear or see things (Kurztweil 1995). They are known for their abusive use. Examples of these are LSD and ibogaine, mescaline, MDMA, DMT, PCP, psilocybin, psilocin and ET or "Trip." Some of them grow naturally as roots of a rain forest shrub, while some, like the MDMA, are illegally prepared in the laboratory. These drugs have separate and distinct properties but share a common ability to alter perceptions or produce hallucinatory experience (Kurtzeil).

A sampling of 139 respondents was surveyed on the frequency of their use of 10 psychoactive drugs (Luke 2005). These were cannabis, relaxants, ecstasy and other emphatogens, dissociatives, and other types. Findings of this paper supported the results of earlier researches and observations. In addition, these findings identified a group of paranormal and mystical experiences as occurring with the use of different psychoactive drugs. Some of them appear to help in the greater understanding of experiences of ESP. Examples are cannabis, Psilocybe mushrooms, DXM. Mescaline, and LSD. Other substances may have value in understanding out-of-body experience and near-death experiences. Examples of these are nitrous oxide and MEO-DMT. The study emphasized that the states, rather than the major chemical components themselves, which the substances induce. This means that the factors of set, setting, intention and expectation and individual neurochemistry are the most important determinants of the experience (Luke).

It is not certain whether these chemically induced subjective experiences link up with paranormal phenomena (Luke 2005). Findings only clarified that these psychedelic drugs are accompanied by many and different transpersonal and psi experiences, which present as spontaneous occurrences. Recording these experiences can be made under tight experimental control. If done, it can provide substantial information on the psychological experience of the psi and its neurochemistry (Luke).

For the first time in three decades, human studies on LSD have increased (Kotler 2005). Many of these researcher said this should have happened earlier or sooner. Many researchers said that hallucinogens disappeared in research laboratories because of the scare for drugs like methamphetamines and heroin and the war on drugs. One research organization was the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, which funded much of such research work on LSD. According to its researchers, there was little evidence that psychedelic drugs are addictive or more dangerous that other stimulants, like alcohol and marijuana. They noted that advances from disease treatment to consciousness studies and basic psychological research suffered a dent on account of this. They looked to these new studies as an important first step to the recovery of missed information. This new development occurred in the early 90s when the Food and Drug Administration ran out of justifications to avoid the research of these prohibited drugs. Scientists looked into the possibility of treating conditions with hallucinogens. In 1960, researcher Eric Kast found that the use of LSD relieved anxiety in terminally ill cancer patients. Rick Doblin of the Multidisciplinary Association is currently studying psilocybin in the treatment of anxiety in late-stage cancer patients. Charles Grob of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center stressed that psychedelics peaked for 50 years. Much research was funded in this field in the 40s and 50s. Many also felt that hallucinogens have an important part in modern psychiatry. The discovery of the neurotransmitter serotonin spearheaded the brain chemistry revolution (Kotler).

In the meantime, two small studies investigated the use of psychedelic substances in alleviating anxiety and improving the quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients (J Klotter 2005). The present practice is to give pharmaceutical drugs to anxious patients who are told that they have less than a year to live. These drugs dull the mind or produce a feeling of edginess. This condition deprives the dying patient the chance to think clearly in resolving family and financial matters and confront his approaching death with peace of mind. In 2004, Dr. Grob derived psilocybin from psychedelic mushrooms. He used the substance with 12 Stage-4 cancer patients who were studied after their sessions with their psychiatrist. Dr. Grob found that the first few patients showed reduced anxiety levels, improved mood and rapport with close family and friends and substantial reduction of pain. In December 2004, Harvard researchers acquired the approval of the Food and Drug Administration for the use of MDMA or ecstasy in the reduction of severe anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. Similar to the psilocybin test, 12 patients would participate in the MDMA test and undergo the same procedure. The researchers would focus on the ability of the combination to dispel anxiety and fears. If successful, the experiment would trigger larger experiments using MDMA on terminal patients and with the approval of the federal government (Klotter).

The current question is whether the powerful neurotoxin of MDMA would be an effective therapy (Spun 2002). Scientists know little about the long-term effects of MDMA on the brain as the most commonly prescribed psychotropics. Misinformation and mythology commonly characterize the war on drugs as in the mental health community. Mind-altering drugs have been accused of many serious side effects. These include paralysis, coma, hysteria, suicidal idealization and violent behavior, arrhythmia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ulcers, colitis, hepatitis, incontinence, gout, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, osteoporosis, abortion, glaucoma, deafness, loss of taste and sexual dysfunction. The most widely prescribed mind-altering drug is Prozac. Millions use it without knowing its potentially deadly side effects. It has been reported that psychotropics, like Prozac, have been linked with bizarre and deadly incidents. Like Paxil and Zoloft, Prozac is a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor used for depression. Serotonin as a neurotransmitter is a chemical, which facilitates communication within the brain. Those who have used it said that the serotonin component produces a sense of "happiness" when it is released into the synapses. Antidepressants are believed to prevent reabsorption of serotonin and lengthen the sense of "happiness." But what evidence shows something else. Nonetheless, more and more people suffering from mild depression are prescribed psychotropics. Reports say that 6 million children between 6 and 18 are taking mind-altering drugs. Some argue against the use of psychotropics. But some contend that these drugs are used as a speedy or take-home solution instead of in conjunction with therapy and careful observation. Using it may be doing more than simply "freeing" the mind from the cause of depression or anxiety. No one can tell the damage it does to the brain after a lifetime of use even as treatment (Spun).

Just the same, doctors are bent on using MDMA or ecstasy on their patients (Spun 2002). They were already doing so and succeeding at it before it was banned in the mid-80s. Some patients achieved overnight successes. In some couples, long-term issues were resolved with its use. Its proponents said that it was declared illegal and a ban imposed because of its rampant abuse at night clubs. MDMA differs from serotonin. Instead of just affecting serotonin, ecstasy floods neurons with neurotransmitters, including dopamine and noradrenaline. But unlike Prozac, ecstasy seems to reduce depression, anxiety and other emotional distresses immediately.

Doblin estimated that for every 2 million users, there was one directly related death. Ecstasy is prepared with sometimes-deadly substances, which can be responsible for many related deaths.

Nevertheless, Doblin believed that this should not stand on the way of approval for research. He said that the most common MDMA-related deaths grew out of overheating or over-hydration. No one had died while on MDMA therapy. As a matter of fact, research suggested it could be useful in relieving stress. But things go against it. It has a bad image, its patent had expired. Ecstasy is given only under strict control, in small doses and limited therapy sessions over a lifetime. Thus, ecstasy has limited potentials for harm and huge profitability of a standard psychotropic. Doblin, however, expressed apprehensions. Ecstasy was known to trigger anxiety attacks and psychotic breakdowns. Users experienced severe depressive periods who later begged for tranquilizers. Advocates of MDMA said that with proper controls, the drug would free sufferers to experience emotions and memories they could not confront without the support (Spun).

Scientists at the Orenda Institute in Baltimore would test the use of LSD on patients addicted to drugs (Kurtzweil 1995). LSD belongs in Schedule I drugs. Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse, possess an unacceptable safety risk and have no acceptable medical use. But the FDA would allow tests on LSD and other Schedule I psychedelic drugs for any medical usefulness. Scientists in a Baltimore study wanted to determine the use of LSD in the treatment of addiction to heroin, opium, alcohol and sedative hypnotics. Others would test the effect of the drug ibogaine on cocaine addiction. Still others would be interested on developing antidotes to drug overdose and in relieving pain in cancer patients. LSD, however, can have adverse effects. It can dilate the pupils; increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and sweating; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth and tremors. It may also induce flashbacks, spontaneous recurrences of certain aspects of the user's "trip." Long-term use may develop psychoses, like schizophrenia and severe depression. The use of MDMA may produce psychological difficulties, like confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety and paranoia, even weeks after the use of the drug. MSMA develops symptoms, such as muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movements, faintness, chills, sweating, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. it, therefore, poses a special risk for those with heart disease. Overuse can lead to death (Kurtzweil).

West Africans used ibogaine as a stimulant and aphrodisiac in the early 1900s (Kurtzweil 1995). Native Americans used mescaline from peyote cactus in religious rituals. LSD was first synthesized in 1938. Throughout history, it was considered a source of many types of medications. Its psychedelic effects were first discovered in 1943. Two decades after World War II, LSD was used to determine its effects on patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders. It was then studied for its use in psychotherapy for alcoholics and cancer patients. In the mid-70s, research was halted on account of its possible unpredictable side effects and abuse. Its illicit and unsupervised use by young adults in the 60s made the use of psychedelic drugs a major public concern. The drugs were also associated with "hippies," and thus had negative social implications (Kurtzweil).