Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 2015
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2015 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209

A GOOD TRIP

Psychedelic Drugs May Have a Role in Medical Treatment

On balance, you would not be in your right mind, as the saying goes, 
to voluntarily take psychedelic drugs. Though the long-term physical 
and psychological effects of LSD are sometimes exaggerated in the 
public mind, a bad "trip" carries risks.

In a medical context, however, psychedelic drugs may be beneficial. 
That, after all, is where LSD and others have their origins, before 
their widespread abuse and subsequent prohibition. The British 
Medical Journal  hardly populated by ageing, addled hippies - carries 
an article by a leading psychiatrist suggesting that a change in the 
law should foster more research into a neglected arm of the 
pharmaceutical industry, and allow the legitimate prescription of LSD 
and other substances where they clearly do serve a medical purpose.

Public debate has long suffered from an intense politicisation of 
these substances - on both sides. In particular, panic-mongers have 
closed down examination of the failures of the "war on drugs" - and 
shut off debate on where illegal chemicals could in fact do good.

With LSD, the case for its supervised use is rarely heard, and that 
is inflicting damage on patients who could benefit. As the BMJ 
article's author argues, there is no evidence that psychedelic drugs 
are habit forming; there is little evidence that they are harmful in 
controlled settings; and much historical evidence that they could 
have use in psychiatric disorders.

The key word here is "evidence". There is too much supposition and 
not enough evidence underlying the classification of drugs. An 
evidence-based, patient-centred, harm-limitation approach would be a 
good trip for our policymakers to take.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom