By Eliza Mcphee for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 11:11 PM EST, February 14, 2024 | Updated: 11:23 PM EST, February 14, 2024

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.

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.

MDMA and magic mushrooms will be available this weekend for psychiatrists to prescribe to people suffering from certain mental illnesses.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the use of psychedelics in February, with the amendment taking effect July 1.

The drugs are still banned and will only be legal as part of psychiatric treatments or in clinical trials.

Drugs containing MDMA will be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, will be used in people with treatment-resistant depression.

John Lee is just one of the Aussies who advocates the use of psychedelics as a psychological treatment.

Mr. Lee was able to recover from years of depression by taking MDMA after his daughter, Freyja, committed suicide in 2019 at the age of 21.

He said he sought the help of an illegal psychedelic therapist and was able to talk to his daughter during the drug-induced hallucinations, allowing him to grieve properly without anger.

However, the decision in February divided health professionals with Australia becoming the first country to legalize MDMA and psilocybin treatments – despite no Australian studies reporting results.

In February, the Mind Medicine Australia team celebrated its legalization.

A statement from the group read: ‘We are delighted with the decision which will be welcomed by so many suffering Australians. It specifically recognizes the current lack of options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental health conditions and the supportive evidence of safety and efficacy from clinical trials.

“The support we have had throughout this process has been incredible and overwhelming.

Finally, our hearts go out to all those Australians suffering from treatment-resistant depression and treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.

“They now have the opportunity to access this groundbreaking treatment with their mental health professionals, which has produced such positive safety and efficacy results internationally.”

Professor Susan Rossell of the University of Swinburne, who is leading Australia’s largest trial into the effect of psilocybin on depression, called for more research before the law changes.

“These treatments are not well established at all for a sufficient level of large-scale implementation,” she said.

“We don’t have any data on long-term outcomes at all, so that worries me a lot, and that’s one of the reasons I’m doing my very large research.”

The Australia Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) shared its research into the use of magic mushrooms as medicine in March.

It stated that psilocybin has been used by indigenous communities for generations.

Magic mushrooms have also been shown to show promising results in the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and alcohol and nicotine dependence.

“But in the late 1960s, the US banned all psychedelics and the world, including Australia, soon followed suit.”

“So despite promising findings, psychedelic research stopped abruptly in the 1970s.”

The ADF also noted that psychedelic treatments should be carefully monitored, as use of the drugs can exacerbate some mental health conditions, such as personality disorders and schizophrenia.

“In a clinical setting, a predetermined and controlled dose of psilocybin is given to the patient under the supervision of a medical professional. Because the patient is in a therapeutic area and the dose is known, it is unlikely there will be a bad reaction,” the ADF said.

“If you use magic mushrooms recreationally, it can be difficult to know how strong the dose is and whether there are other contaminants from the environment.

“It can also be difficult to know how a person’s environment might affect their experience. This can increase the chance of a bad trip.’