The Psychedelic Elephant
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We’re switching gears today to discuss an increasingly relevant topic — Psychedelic Assisted Therapy.
Why?
Four reasons:
- It works.
- What we’re currently doing doesn’t work.
- No matter your stance, the Psychedelic Renaissance is here.
- Many veterans and first responders are prime candidates for the treatment and should start educating themselves on PAT.
Let’s dive into that third point.
Whether you like it or not, “illicit” drugs like Ketamine, Psilocybin (mushrooms), and MDMA are well on their way to becoming mainstream mental health treatments.
It’s the proverbial elephant in the room.
Some of you probably love it.
Some of you may hate it.
And some of you are just sitting back with your popcorn waiting for someone to broach the subject.
Here’s the thing though, as much as we love watching things burn, there’s a much more productive way to frame this argument.
Enter the Scientist and the Activist.
The Scientist’s main concern is to understand the healing power of psychedelics.
They aim to do so while maintaining the integrity of the scientific process. They also worry about the underground use of these drugs and the potential risk that poses to their scientific pursuits.
After all, this is exactly what happened in 1971 when Nixon labeled Timothy Leary as “the most dangerous man in America” and identified him as the leader of the drug-driven counterculture. Consequently, a highly promising research area was nixed (…pun intended), leading to a loss of 50 years in scientific advancement!
And their concerns wouldn’t necessarily be unfounded.
Between 2017-2022, the volume of illicit ketamine seizures rose 1,100% between 2017 and 2022. Not a great look, but that doesn’t deter the Activist.
To the Activist, the data in support of psychedelics is too good and the problem too dire to delay any longer.
And they aren’t wrong!
Research like this abounds for MDMA, Psilocybin, Ketamine, and others.
A quick search will prove it.
So in the eyes of the Activist, the question is, “What gives?”
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy works.
It’s needed.
Let’s get people what they need!
All great points.
And if you know us, you also know we aren’t afraid to go full-Sua Sponte and Carpe that Diem.
Which is why it pains us to admit that the checks & balances inherit to the Scientist vs Activist debate is in all of our best interest.
Yes, there is a ton of bureaucratic bullsh*t that we could all do without.
But this is also a multi-faceted problem with many layers and implications. Here’s just some of those:
- Legal and Regulatory Hurdles: Changing these regulations requires extensive evidence of safety and efficacy, which can be a long and challenging process.
- Stigma and Societal Perception: We talked about this. The stigma is still very much alive (…thanks a lot Mom), making some individuals and policymakers hesitant to support their therapeutic potential.
- Lack of Education and Training: There's a need for specialized training programs for therapists and healthcare providers in psychedelic-assisted therapy. It’s a new frontier and the resources just aren’t quite there for widespread adoption.
- Insurance and Cost Issues: Psychedelic-assisted therapy can be expensive, involving not just the drug, but also extended therapy sessions. Insurance coverage for these treatments is growing but still limited, making it financially inaccessible for many people.
- Integration into Mainstream Medicine: Integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy into conventional medical and mental health care practices requires changes in protocols, practices, and perceptions among healthcare providers.
- Ethical and Safety Concerns: Ensuring the safety and ethical administration of psychedelics, particularly considering their powerful effects on consciousness, is paramount. Developing guidelines and safeguards to protect patients is a complex but necessary process.
Before we harsh anyone’s mellow, we’ll close with this. The gentleman at the Vet Collective are extremely bullish on the adoption of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. Many veterans and first responders in our circles have had their lives changed for the better by these treatments.
It’s also why we’re so excited to announce this week’s guest on the Harder Not Smarter Podcast, Christy Myers (CEO at Flow Integrative). Christy has been paving the way for Veterans and First Responders to receive Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and is the go-to expert in the field.
This episode is a MUST watch for anyone interested in PAT and Mental Health at large.
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