Australia Legalizes MDMA, Magic Mushrooms For Therapeutic Use; 1st country in the world to do so

As of today, July 1, licensed psychiatrists can prescribe medications containing MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin to treat people with treatment-resistant depression.

Australia Legalizes MDMA, Magic Mushrooms For Mental Health; 1st country in the world to do so

Canberra: In Australia, MDMA and magic mushrooms will be made available to psychiatrists to prescribe to people suffering from certain mental illnesses. This makes it the first country in the world to legalize the use of psychedelics for the treatment of humans.

As of today, July 1, authorized psychiatrists can prescribe the drugs containing MDMA, otherwise known as the party drug ecstasy, to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, to treat people with – resistant depression.

Authorities in Canada and the United States allow the medical use of one or both drugs, but only in clinical trials or with special licensing.

New guidelines for psychedelic therapy

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has issued guidelines for the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs. Under the new standards, the drugs can only be administered in a hospital or clinic, where two psychotherapists must be with the patient for six to eight hours to ensure safety. However, the organization recognizes that a shortage of mental health professionals is likely to result in only a limited number of therapists being able to meet the requirements.

Expert response

The controversial move has been hailed as a game-changer by many scientists and mental health experts. However, others say the move has been too hasty and shouldn’t be overly hyped. Experts say there is still the risk of a “bad trip”, that is, when the user has an unpleasant experience while under the influence of drugs.

The use of the psychedelics would be carefully monitored and it’s not a case of “take a pill and go,” said Dr Mike Musker, a mental health researcher at the University of South Australia.

He told AFP news agency that, in the case of MDMA, for example, the patient will likely undergo three treatments over five to eight weeks. Each treatment would last about eight hours, with the therapist staying with the patient the entire time.

Prof Rossell, who is leading Australia’s largest trial into the effects of psilocybin on depression, added that more research was needed to determine the long-term results of the therapy.

Mike Musker, a mental health and suicide prevention researcher at the University of South Australia, told AFP that MDMA would be useful for treating post-traumatic stress, while psilocybin could help with depression.

He explained that MDMA “gives people a sense of belonging and makes it easier for people to connect with a therapist and also talk about bad personal experiences.”

Psilocybin gives patients a “psycho-spiritual effect, which you wouldn’t get with traditional drugs,” he said, adding that this “might make you feel different about yourself and your life… and hopefully it will you want to live ”.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) shocked many in the medical and scientific world in February when it reclassified MDMA and psilocybin so that they could be used for therapeutic purposes.

It declared the drugs “relatively safe” when used in a “medically controlled environment” for patients “with serious mental illness”. Otherwise, both MDMA and psilocybin are illegal in Australia.