Safety considerations in the evolving legal landscape of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Victor Mocanu, Lindsay Mackay, Devon Christie, Elena Argento
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy May 14, 2022 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00468-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist Engineering ethics |
| Citations | 27 |
| Key points | Argues that a range of factors should be considered to safely expand access to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and that streamlining access to compassionate use could provide timely treatment and encourage further research. |
Abstract
International drug policy is rapidly evolving in tandem with promising evidence for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) in treating a range of mental health conditions. Canada is among the countries increasingly expanding access to psychedelic substances for therapeutic purposes. The 8-year ban on medical exemptions through the Canadian Special Access Programme was recently reversed in January 2022 and the first exemptions for legal possession and personal use of psilocybin mushrooms were granted in 2020, nearly 50 years since their criminalization. In view of the evolving evidence base and regulatory landscape for PAP illustrated by recent shifts in Canadian and international drug policy, this piece seeks to clarify the special range of factors which ought to be considered to safely expand access to psychedelics. Streamlining access to safe and evidence-based compassionate use of PAP will provide a timely treatment option to those currently in need while encouraging further research and outcome surveillance to refine best practices.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 26
- A century of research on psychedelics: A scientometric analysis on trends and knowledge maps of hallucinogens, entactogens, entheogens and dissociative drugs. European Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2022
- Psilocybin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease Frontiers in Neuroscience July 10, 2024
- Ethics of Psychedelic Use in Psychiatry and Beyond—Drawing upon Legal, Social and Clinical Challenges Philosophies August 24, 2023
- Going Underground: Demographics, Services, and Best Practices Endorsed by Practitioners Providing Support for Naturalistic Psychedelic Use Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 19, 2024
- Review of Psilocybin Use for Depression among Cancer Patients after Approval in Oregon Cancers April 27, 2024
and 21 more in the library
Cites 15
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse July 21, 2016
- Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 15, 2018
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
and 10 more in the library