Psychedelic medicine and the clinical application of hallucinogens
EClinicalMedicine February 24, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101891 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Restrictive laws and societal stigma have limited the clinical investigation and use of hallucinogens since the mid-20th century. |
Abstract
Although humans have used hallucinogens ritualistically for thousands of years, interest in their clinical use for the treatment of mental illness began in the 1950s, when active compounds were first isolated. Restrictive laws came into place in the 1960–70s limiting their medical use and investigation. Societal stigma further hampered progress and although the legal status of hallucinogens varies globally, in much of the world there are restrictions and many psychedelic drugs remain illegal worldwide under UN conventions.