2025/10/09 by Sidney Nkamigbo, Maria Rodrigues Mota D Alva Teixeira, Angela Moyo
#Hallucinogen #LSD #MDMA #Mental health #Psychedelics #Therapy #mental health #psilocybin #therapy
paper · doi:10.57898/bioscientist.350
Psychedelic drugs induce altered states of consciousness, perception, and cognition, and have been the subject of extensive scientific research for their potential therapeutic applications. The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs has long been debated, with discussion often polarised between their perceived social harms and possible medical benefits. While many hallucinogens remain prohibited worldwide, recent regulatory shifts are beginning to open pathways for clinical use. As of 2024, jurisdictions including South Africa, Panama, and parts of the United States have permitted controlled therapeutic applications of substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD. Parallel to these changes, growing bodies of research continue to explore their efficacy in treating psychiatric conditions and, more recently, in alleviating chronic pain. This review examines clinically approved approaches to psychedelic therapy, with particular emphasis on the contributions of the Centre for Psychedelic Research and considers the implications of this evolving field for clinical practice and future investigation.