Psychedelic Recap: Feb 1 - Feb 7, 2023
Athletes Share Their Perspective on Psychedelics in Sport & Australia Reschedules MDMA & Psilocybin for Use in Treatment
Athletes & Psychedelics
“From TBIs to transitioning professions, athletes can experience immense physical & mental difficulties as a result of their careers. Could psychedelics serve athletes where traditional methods have failed? Pro athletes weigh in on the conversation. Read our breakdown of the Twitter Spaces discussion below:
Australia to Reschedule Psychedelics in July 2023
The medical use of MDMA and Psilocybin is planned to be rescheduled from Schedule 9 (prohibited substances) to Schedule 8 (controlled medicines) of the Poisons Standard in Australia starting July 1, 2023. All other uses of MDMA and Psilocybin will remain illegal.
From Mind Medicine Australia’s Newsletter:
The TGA’s decision to reschedule these substances for medical purposes for use by authorised psychiatrists is in response to Mind Medicine Australia’s rescheduling application lodged in March 2022 (and earlier application lodged in July 2020) and the enormous number of Australians who lodged their submissions in support.
You can read the TGA’s full announcement and the Delegate’s Final Decision here - https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/change-classification-psilocybin-and-mdma-enable-prescribing-authorised-psychiatrists
We are delighted with the decision which will be welcomed by so many suffering Australians. It specifically recognises the current lack of options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental illnesses and the supporting evidence of safety and efficacy from clinical trials.
We want to express our enormous gratitude to the tens of thousands of people who have made this breakthrough possible including the TGA, the Delegate, the members of the TGA’s Medicines Scheduling Advisory Committee and all of the psychiatrists, psychologists, other mental health professionals, world leading experts and all of the people who put in submissions of support.
The support that we have had throughout this process has been incredible and overwhelming.
Finally, our hearts go out to all those Australians suffering from treatment resistant depression and treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. They will now have the opportunity of accessing this breakthrough treatment with their mental health professionals, which has shown such positive safety and efficacy results internationally.
Read More Over on Our LinkedIn Page.
From Our Partners @
"Ketamine puts the brain back into a neutral space, allowing us to address our negative patterns of behavior, retrain our brains, and (ultimately) break our cycle of addiction. By removing both the 'emotional attachment' as well as the 'shame element' that keeps so many people stuck repeating these harmful habits ruining their lives, ketamine represents a crucial element in the field of mental healthcare & addiction management." - Kathryn Walker (CEO, Revitalist).
A Decade of Mental Illness: How Ketamine Therapy Changed My Life.
“With special permission, Revitalist is extremely honored to share a small portion of a very powerful & important message (brought to you by Hayley Rogers over on TikTok) regarding her experience as well as the truly remarkable potential of ketamine therapy.”
Highlights from “The Microdose“ Substack: This Week in Psychedelics.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis appoints 15 members to the Natural Medicine Advisory Board. The purpose of the board is to advise the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies on the creation of new rules for the state’s psilocybin program;
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, MDMA, & LSD are classed Schedule I drugs in the United States (as per the Controlled Substances Act). Schedule I substances are almost never rescheduled, which represents a major barrier to further research. In light of the above, the process of drug scheduling is in desperate need of restructuring;
In a study published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders, cancer patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder experienced positive psychological, social, and spiritual change after receiving psilocybin-assisted therapy; and
MDMA could receive FDA approval as early as 2024.
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From the Web
“veterans are increasingly turning to psychedelic drug-assisted therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder as well as other mental health conditions such as depression.” - healthline.com
“Ego death can be among the most transcendent or terrifying events of a person's life. But what exactly is happening in the brain during this kind of psychedelic experience?” - doubleblindmag.com
“Drugs best known for their hallucinogenic properties, such as psilocybin, could help people beat the agony of migraines and other painful maladies.” - nature.com
A Top Federal Drug Official Says ‘Train Has Left The Station’ On Psychedelics As Reform Movement Spreads. “There is an urgency to bring treatments, such as psychedelic medicines, for people that are suffering from severe mental illness. [And], with all the attention psychedelics have attracted [recently], people are going to start using them [regardless of their scheduling status].” - marijuanamoment.net
“Psilocybin and MDMA are poised to be the hottest new therapeutics since Prozac. Universities want in, and so does Wall Street. Some worry, however, that a push to loosen access could bring unintended consequences.” - nytimes.com