Natalie Weeks

Health 1050

July 31, 2018

Psychedelic Drugs Meets Mental Health

Research Paper

Psychedelic drugs, also called psychotomimetic drugs or hallucinogen, are considered

mind-expanding drugs that have the ability to alter perception and thought. Hallucinogenic drugs

are taken orally. The more fat-soluble the faster it enters the blood stream, and affects the brain.

If the drug is degraded, the longer the psychedelic trip will be. All hallucinogens are different

and will influence each consumers brain differently. The chemical structure in each drug

fluctuates, because a lot of the street drugs aren't pure and most are laced with other drugs,

leaving each dose of the “same” drug with different chemical structures. Classic hallucinogens

have perception-altering effects, because hallucinogens act on rural circuits in the brain and use

the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a compound present in the blood platelets and serum

that constricts the blood vessels; acting as a neurotransmitter.

Every consumer who partakes in psychedelic drugs experiences their trips differently from

one an other, it is very hard to accurately say which hallucinogen does exactly what to each user.

However, most of the original side effects consist of: vision effects; such as colors shown more

vibrant, images can appear as wavy, or you can feel that your eyes are playing tricks on you and

distortion of size. Some original physical effects consists of: dizziness, nausea, jittery, high blood

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pressure, hight rate increases, breathing enhancement and tingling in the limbs. Psychedelic

drugs are most commonly known to alter the state of mind. Psychedelics create a completely

untrue reality and as the user consumes the substance they begin to “trip”, sending the consumer

into a hallucination. (https://www.britannica.com/science/psychedelic-drug)

Psychedelics for many years have been commonly used for spiritual practice and belief

purposes. They have also been used to treat anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder). People often with low serotonin levels struggle with depression or other mental

illnesses. Research shows that psychedelics do not raise or increase the consumers amount of

dopamine (a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other

substances including epinephrine). Instead psychedelics act on certain dopamine receptors;

although some psychedelics like LSD, temporarily reduces the relative levels of serotonin

available. This does not have a long-term affect on the serotonin levels; but when consumers

come down from their high/trip, they get depression like side effects. (https://thethirdwave.co/

lsd-effects-on-the-brain/)

The psychedelic drug used to treat PTSD is MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.)

MDMA commonly known as Ecstasy or E, is a psychoactive drug usually used as a recreational

drug. Common side effects of MDMA consist of: an increase of energy, altered sensations, teeth

grinding, rapid heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, paranoia, sweating profusely and in some cases

memory loss. MDMA is known to increase availability of the neurotransmitters; such as

serotonin, and dopamine in parts of the brain. “Psychedelic drugs achieved their widest

popularity during the late 1960’ s and early 70’s, when drugs such as LSD were central to the

“hippie” subculture in western Europe and the United States. Although the drug diminished in

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popularity, they retained a following in some regions and cultures and achieved renewed

popularity during the 1990’s, when LSD and Ecstasy has a significant youth following in the

United States and Europe.” (https://www.britannica.com/science/psychedelic-drug)

MDMA specifically first appeared around 1912, but was used in psychotherapy in the 70’s

before it became popular in the 90’s as a street/party drug, most commonly used at raves.

Psychotherapy; “is the use of phycological methods, particularly when based on regular

personal interactions, to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in desired

ways.” (https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy) Psychotherapy is known to

help mental health illness, social skills, impulsiveness, unhealthy behaviors, etc. Most

psychotherapy is evidenced-based however, in the 70’s, medical professionals used MDMA to

help veterans with PTSD as the drug wasn't under strict clinical regulation.

On August 28th, 2017, Forbes magazine released an article titled; “FDA Designates

MDMA As ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ For Post-Traumatic Stress.” The article reads; “Last Week,

the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) announced that the FDA

granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress

disorder.” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/08/28/fda-designates-mdma-as-

breakthrough-therapy-for-post-traumatic-stress/#7a6d91797460) Due to the research, it has been

proven that the main ingredient, MDMA in the drug Ecstasy, indeed does offer relief for people

suffering with this mental health illness. The Forbes article also mentions further that MAPS and

the FDA have come to an agreement under special protocol to allow MAPS to continue their

clinical trials, due to special assessments designed of two Phase 3-trials for patients who have

been diagnosed with severe PTSD. MDMA helps people with PTSD in many ways such as

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providing the sufferer with feelings of empathy, euphoria, less stress, physical sensations and

more.

As mentioned previously MDMA affects the brain in many ways, but MDMA affects three

main brain chemicals. First, MDMA increases the activity levels in Dopamine; MDMA produces

a rise in activeness and energy in the consumer and acts to reinforce behaviors. Second, it affects

a brain chemical called Norepinephrine, this chemical reaction is where the increase in heart rate

comes from, high blood pressure, which negatively affect individuals who have heart disease/

blood vessel problems, because it put these individuals at a higher risk for medical complications

during their trip. Third, it affects the serotonin in the consumer by impacting their mood,

appetite, sleep schedule, empathy, and it also links and triggers hormones that affect sexual

arousal. For people who struggle with PTSD, MDMA helps a lot because of these three brain

chemical reactions when taking the drug. After the high of the drug has worn off, the side-effects

leave you feeling drained but also with other issues and unpleasant problems. For this reason, it

is very important for people with PTSD who are in clinical trials with MDMA, to be watched

carefully and dosed only by a professional. Also the MDMA given during these studies and trials

are made in labs and are the purest form of MDMA. On the street MDMA, also known as

Ecstasy can be dirty, and laced with other harmful drugs or chemicals. (https://

www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly)

The New York Times also came out with an article titled, “The Promise of Ecstasy for

PTSD.” In this article it reads; “The F.D.A. approval is a beacon of hope for the roughly eight

million Americans believed to suffer from PTSD, a group that includes victims of abuse,

refugees, and and combat veterans. The shortcomings in the way we have typically treated PTSD

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mean that many are condemned to suffer from the condition for years, even decades, with little

relief.” The article mentions how approximately 20% of PTSD patients are receiving small relief

though prescription drugs such as; Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, which are anti-anxiety and

depression medicines. These prescriptions have been the global standard of mental health care

since the 1990’s and have been also been know to be used in psychotherapy.

The New York Times article also states; “This could change with the F.D.A.’s decision,

which has given MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD the status of a

potential “breakthrough therapy.” Based on promising early results, this designation permits the

fast-tracking of trials in hopes of proving the drug, which has psychedelic and stimulant effects,

to be safe and capable of doing what no other drug on the market can.” (https://

www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/opinion/ecstasy-ptsd.html)

The author of the article, Khaliya, struggles with PTSD from a violent robbery. After

suffering with severe PTSD, Khaliya considers the effectiveness of MDMA treatment. After

years of struggling from crippling PTSD, Khaliya decided to break the law and try an

underground MDMA psychotherapy treatment. The MDMA- assisted therapy allowed Khaliya to

overcome the trauma and return to the person Khaliya was before the attack.

As always there are risks to MDMA- assisted therapy, because MDMA is illegal being

caught with possession of MDMA is a felony, but beside the risk of getting caught with

possession of MDMA and getting charged with a felony, there are many other risk factors that

play into it. Like any other drug there are serious side-effects, but the consumers also risk getting

addicted to MDMA. Although MDMA is less addictive than opioids there is still that risk factor.

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