Australia legalizes the medical use of psychedelics for mental health purposes

Australia has become the first country in the world to legalize the use of psychedelics to treat certain mental disorders. Under the new regulations, which came into force on July 1, licensed Australian psychiatrists can prescribe MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for depression that has resisted other treatments.

While Australia is the first country in the world to regulate the medical use of psychedelics, numerous clinical trials are underway. in the United States, in Canada and Israel.

The use of psychedelics will be closely monitored and won't just be a case of «take a pill and go», said Dr Mike Musker, a mental health researcher at the University of South Australia.

Calling it a «paradigm shift», he told AFP that, in the case of MDMA for example, the patient would probably have three treatments over a period of five to eight weeks. Each treatment would last around eight hours, with the therapist remaining with the patient throughout.

However, patients should not expect a miracle cure.

«I've read stories of people having what are called bad trips, or actually reliving their trauma, so we need to be very careful,» said Dr Musker.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has reclassified MDMA and psilocybin in February so that they can be used for therapeutic purposes.

It declared these substances «relatively safe» when used in a «medically controlled environment» for patients «suffering from serious mental disorders». Otherwise, MDMA and psilocybin are illegal in Australia.

The TGA acknowledges that there are unknowns and inconclusive evidence, but states that 'there are promising signs» that controlled therapeutic drug use can improve mental health in some people and that the »benefits for some patients... outweigh the risks«.

The regulator points out that there are currently no approved products containing MDMA or psilocybin. However, the reclassification means that psychiatrists will be able to access and legally dispense certain drugs containing these substances, even if their safety and efficacy have not been assessed.