Galen
1
Topic: Health
Pub Name: Can Psychedelic drugs treat depression?
Writer: Anne Harding, CNN
Pub Date: September 27th 2010
Length: 1684 Words
It may seem odd that a psychedelic drug associated with hippies from the 60s and 70s might help cancer patients and those suffering from post-dramatic stress disorder. Yet in the past month, studies have been published on the benefits of Ecstasy and psilocybin or "magic mushrooms" in people with these conditions. Although these drugs may be dangerous in the wrong hands, if taken under professional supervision along with therapy, researchers say, just a few doses can help patients experience therapeutic breakthroughs that would have otherwise taken many months or years. Actually in the early 1960s, a team of researchers who were led by psychologist Timothy Leary looked into the effects of psilocybin and LSD in a series of experiments at Harvard University. But research came to a halt after drugs were adopted by college students and hippie communities.
In conclusion, I believe these drugs may release some of the stress and pain put upon those who are not as fortunate as I to be in good health. I am not ignoring the potential consequences of the actions that may follow putting hallucinogens out into the public world. Yet in the right hands, these drugs may be of powerful help. It is worth a try.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/24/psychedelic.drugs.depression/index.html
It is good to know that drugs that are normally seen as bad can have such good health benefits for those with mental problems.
ReplyDeleteI personally also think that it is worth a try. Since cancer can't be treated completely and researches have shown that psychedelic drugs can have therapeutic breakthroughs, this drug might benefit those people. I really hope that one day cancer can be treated.
ReplyDeleteI think it is worth trying, because there are many other drugs that had been used to make similar therapys, and worked, like the marijuana.
ReplyDeleteIts good that there are advancements being made to help these diseases. I think its worth a try as long as it is in a control environment. But i also hope that they test the side effects of using magic mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteThese illnesses are very hard to treat and many people suffer from them, so I think it is definitely worth it to test these drugs. However, people must be very careful to keep these types of drugs in the right hands so that people do not start using them for non-intended purposes.
ReplyDeleteIt is very intersting that these drugs can assist cancer patients mentally, even though these drugs were once abused. I think that with better understanding of what certain drugs do to the body, we can use those drugs with less harm.
ReplyDeleteI think if it dose more right than wrong and the tests are true about how it is not bad for you if taken under supervision they should at least be able to do it. Also people should be notified of the negative effects the drugs can have and that you as a patient can get addicted and could also lessen the patients life time if used wrong. If i was in the situation where one of these drugs could help me and not have harmful side effects i would take them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very interesting that a drug like these could help sooth pain or maybe even help stress. It seems like it would be worth a try. If a doctor is looking over you, and it ends up helping you why not. The gain is much bigger than the loss.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting idea that should be researched. There is danger of course, but it seems like if doctors have the control, not the patients, the amount of help it could do outweighs the risk. Of course, this is mostly speculation, so I think the more research there is the better.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that such dangerous drugs could be used to help treat people. I think that it is worth a try as long as it is completely controlled by the doctors. However, even though it seems like a good idea, it might have negative side effects that they do not know about as yet. Also, I don't really see how they would be able to prevent addiction from ensuing.
ReplyDeleteI think any new ideas is a step forward in the medical world. No matter how outrageous they may seem they may lead to another discovery that could change the world. It's worth a shot.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that doctors are finding a way to use potentially harmful substances for their advantage. I'm also glad that those suffering from cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder are being provided with an opportunity to improve their condition. I do, however, hope research is done about the side effects so patients won't be harmed in the long term.
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool that they are stepping out of the box by trying some more unconventional methods such as illegal drugs. It's been shown to work for others such as morphine and methamphetamine, I don't see why if correctly supervised this couldn't work.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting that scientists are willing to try something that seems radical. It's worth a try and can't hurt to seek out cures for the mentioned diseases, because the reward far outweighs the risk.
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