Can Drugs Like LSD And Ecstasy Be Therapeutic For People With Mental Anguish?

[Pipebomb]

Yesterday Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviewed Rick Doblin on the topic of psychedelic medicine. Rick Doblin is the founder of The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidi...edelic_Studies



I could go on and on about the importance of psychedelics, but i'll TRY to keep it short lol.

MDMA- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA
The randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study yielded results that suggest possible efficacy as over 80% of 20 subjects in the study no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD (sexual abuse, war, violent crime, and other traumas), compared with 25% in the placebo group.

LSD- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysergic_acid_diethylamide
In one study in the late 1950s, Dr Humphry Osmond gave LSD to alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous who had failed to quit drinking. After one year, around 50% of the study group had not had a drink — a success rate that has never been duplicated by any other means.

Also worth checking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Chapel_Experiment
Almost all of the members of the experimental group reported experiencing profound religious experiences. "the most powerful cosmic homecoming I have ever experienced."

Other important psychedelics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayahuasca
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mescaline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_divinorum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
The most profound psychedelic. Its presence is widespread throughout the plant kingdom. Also produced in humans. Not much is known, but probably produced in the pineal gland and released during sleep and death. Check out "DMT: The Spirit Molecule" documentary.

It always puzzles me why there aren't 4 inch headlines on every newspaper on the planet saying "DRUG DISCOVERED WHICH OPENS DOORWAY TO HYPERSPACE!!!

[yetgdhfgh]

Yes

/10chars

[AeneasBK]

Yes /10 char

[Netherspark]

As someone who has suffered from acute depression and has also dabbled in all manors of drugs, I can say with certaintly that MDMA and LSD both have profound positive effects. They are by far the most effective anti-depressants.

LSD can transform a person with severe depression and lethargy almost magically into an upbeat, cheerful and apparently "normal" person. And that isn't the "being high" effect, it's a seperate, secondary effect that far outlasts the high itself.

However the effect is only temporary, and the depression slowly returns when the chemicals leave your system.

[Deleted]

They can, but the problem is the longitudinal effects that it has on ones body - most of which are not fully understood yet.

[Oraj]

Yes!
I personally prefer mushrooms as they are a non synthetic. They're great for depression. Not a fan of MDMA toxicity is too high ( also why I don't like alcohol ). As for LSD, You never really know what you're getting!

[Meaux]

TIL: Drugs that get you high make you feel good while you are high.

[drwelfare]

TIL: Drugs that get you high make you feel good while you are high.

And when you no longer are under the effects will things seem worse?
Whats the use going through with it if your only options are to be high to the point of being non-functional, or being miserable.

[AeneasBK]

And when you no longer are under the effects will things seem worse?
Whats the use going through with it if your only options are to be high to the point of being non-functional, or being miserable.

The positive 'feels' from a DMT trip last weeks longer than the 30 minute high.

[Deletedaccount1]

They can, but the problem is the longitudinal effects that it has on ones body - most of which are not fully understood yet.

How dare you criticize drugs, they are perfect and legal and everyone loves them so much you nazi

[Netherspark]

And when you no longer are under the effects will things seem worse?
Whats the use going through with it if your only options are to be high to the point of being non-functional, or being miserable.

It has nothing to do with being "high". The high lasts hours, the positive effects can last days or weeks after the high itself is gone.

The brain of someone with depression is different to a normal brain, the chemicals are imbalanced. LSD alters that brain chemistry, returning it to near-normal.

[Dhrizzle]

And when you no longer are under the effects will things seem worse?
Whats the use going through with it if your only options are to be high to the point of being non-functional, or being miserable.

The idea isn't to get massively high, you take a very moderate amount (less than your typical recreational user) and use the drug to work through issues.

[Drsolders]

I think the question is more so, how much damage to a person do those drugs cause? Doesn't Ecstasy also make depression worse when you come down? Long term effects?

[Deletedaccount1]

I think the question is more so, how much damage to a person do those drugs cause? Doesn't Ecstasy also make depression worse when you come down? Long term effects?

At the very least it wears off overtime and the person is either depressed as shit or they're bouncing off the wall.

- - - Updated - - -

The best coping method to depression is counseling and a supportive surrounding. Drugs are a band aid solution with unknown side effects.

[Deleted]

Most drugs have some medical use, like alcohol is giving as antidote to cure methylated poisoning, cant think that LSD is a exception. That is not a augment to self-medicate illegal drugs or use prescription drug without proper prescription.

[Netherspark]

I think the question is more so, how much damage to a person do those drugs cause? Doesn't Ecstasy also make depression worse when you come down? Long term effects?

No. Many "ecstacy" pills etc leave you with the equivalent of a nasty hangover, but that's mostly because of the crap it's mixed with. Pure MDMA crystals are cleaner and generally do not leave you feeling like that. The after-effects of clean MDMA tend to be rather mellow and can leave you feeling peaceful for several days.

Overuse of MDMA can supposedly drain your serotonin.

[Deleted]

No. Many "ecstacy" pills etc leave you with the equivalent of a nasty hangover, but that's mostly because of the crap it's mixed with. Pure MDMA crystals are cleaner and generally do not leave you feeling like that. The after-effects of clean MDMA tend to be rather mellow and can leave you feeling peaceful for several days.

Overuse of MDMA can supposedly drain your serotonin.

That's the point though, whilst we are unsure about the long term effects, it would be crazy to start dishing them out.

Although interestingly, we still are not completely sure what the long term impact of prolonged cell phone use will be, but we all use them.

[Netherspark]

That's the point though, whilst we are unsure about the long term effects, it would be crazy to start dishing them out.

Although interestingly, we still are not completely sure what the long term impact of prolonged cell phone use will be, but we all use them.

Thus we need more medical trials.

Though while anecdotal, people have been medicating with these drugs for years already with positive effects.

[Varabently]

What does mental anguish mean?

[MerinPally]

Most probably, people would be surprised with how much drugs actually do. Drugs come up with new uses sometimes, some more obvious than others. Example being Thalidomide has been used to give to a certain type of blood cancer patient. Whether it did any good I don't know but...