Last week U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) urged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct more research into the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
The high-level ask lent even more legitimacy to the burgeoning use and study of drugs like psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, and ketamine to treat mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and alcohol addiction. In January the NIH hosted a workshop called “Psychedelics as Therapeutics: Gaps, Challenges and Opportunities.” It highlighted existing research and the regulatory challenges and opportunities to advance psychedelic research.
Notes for the workshop said, “psychedelics have well-described effects on perception of the exterior world and an individual’s concept of their role within it. But these agents also influence mood, stress management, memory, and social functioning.”
Psychedelics have well-described effects on perception of the exterior world and an individual’s concept of their role within it. But these agents also influence mood, stress management, memory, and social functioning.
National Institutes of Health
U.S. research on psychedelics goes at least back to 1950. But increased recreational use of these drugs during the 1960s counter-culture movement stigmatized them politically. Congress placed many of the drugs on Schedule I and later set harsh penalties for having and using them in the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. Subsequently, research funding for these drugs dried up.
But research moved forward in the 1990s, ultimately getting therapeutic approval for MDMA (or ecstasy) to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In April 2021, the NIH awarded its first grant dedicated to medicinal psychedelic research, focused on psilocybin.
Jessica Shea, founder of Memphis-based Forward Counseling, prescribes a ketamine/esketamine nasal spray for some of her patients, sometimes with very positive results, she said. She also founded Memphis Mushroom Festival, which takes place this weekend at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. The event features three days of music, food, chef demonstrations, yoga, and lectures on the therapeutic effects of magic mushrooms.
— Toby Sells
Memphis Flyer: Why do you believe in psychedelics?
Jessica Shea: I believe in psychedelics because they are more effective than our current medications and they also work on hard-to-treat diagnoses.
The umbrella term “psychedelic medicine” is used for a class of medications that alters consciousness, temporarily. These medications affect your perceptions, feelings and thoughts and we are finding that this effect is helping people resolve addictions, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Many of the research participants in clinical trials of these breakthrough medications called their experience with psychedelic medicine a spiritual experience and one of the most important experiences of their lives. And these are people who have been suffering with severe depression and hopelessness. In my opinion, the mental health field needs this innovation to treat the epidemic of depression and suicide that this nation is facing.
You prescribe ketamine/eskatamine to your patients. Tell me about results you’ve seen.
I have been referring clients for ketamine or eskatamine since 2019 and just this year, Forward Counseling was approved to provide ketamine/eskatamine in our own offices. We have seen people who are severely depressed and with suicidal thoughts and ideation feel relief and hope.
We have also seen complete resolution of depression symptoms. Ketamine and eskatamine are twice as effective as [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors — SSRIs] at resolving depression, with less side effects.
You also founded the Memphis Mushroom Festival. What can those attending expect?
Memphis Mushroom Festival is a multi-day experiential event held at Meeman Shelby Forest. Each day has different speakers, demos, chefs, music and entertainers. We will be teaching about the intersection of nature and health in a fun and interactive way with an emphasis on how mushrooms can improve our lives.
We will also have lectures about the psychedelic medicine, psilocybin, which comes from certain mushrooms, from its history as sacred potions to modern applications and research. You can come for the day or you can come camp at the park with us for the whole time.
