psilocybin (the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms) to treat mental health issues like PTSD, trauma, depression, and end-of-life anxiety for the terminally ill.

There is a compelling and growing body of evidence that psilocybin can be a much more effective treatment for these things than current medications or therapies. However, psilocybin should be used in this regard in a clinical setting and in conjunction with a therapist or licensed guide as part of a tested protocol that includes setting intentions before the session and working through the experience to integrate what was learned and experienced (and using that insight to help set the intentions for the next session). In this context, one to four sessions should be sufficient with maybe one session per year or two, if even needed.

I’ve spoken with multiple individuals who have used psilocybin therapeutically under religious use or illegally. And while I can’t deny their accounts of being helped, many of them continue to use regularly far beyond what the current protocols in clinical trials show is needed. This strikes me as veering widely from therapeutic use to becoming something of a crutch. One that shouldn’t be needed.

And that’s the danger of psychedelics - using them as a short cut instead of a helpful tool on a path that requires actual work. But I suppose that isn’t too different than what happens now with antidepressants.