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Source-This post on Psychedelics is based on the article “A psychedelic high” published in “Down to Earth” on 22nd May 2024.
Why in the News?
Researchers are advocating for domestic clinical trials of psychedelic drugs, motivated by the increase in global trials and the low effectiveness of existing medications in treating mental health issues.
About Psychedelics
1. About Psychedelics: Psychedelics are drugs that alter perception, behavior, consciousness, and thought, often intensifying sensory awareness.
2. This category of drugs is a subset of psychotropic substances known for their ability to drastically change an individual’s thoughts, perceptions, and can cause vivid hallucinations.
3. Categories of Psychedelics:
a) Classical Psychedelics: These compounds primarily cause hallucinations by activating the serotonin 5-HT receptor, which is prevalent throughout the human body, including in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and the nervous system.
Examples include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin, and DMT (N, N-Dimethyltryptamine).
b) Non-Classical Psychedelics: These substances interact with a variety of receptors. Notable examples are ketamine and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine).
4. How it works:
Most psychedelics enhance the presence of serotonin, a hormone that stabilizes mood, by binding to serotonin receptors. These receptors are molecules located on cell surfaces that trigger specific biochemical reactions when they bind with certain chemicals.
5. Research and Clinical Use: Currently, five psychedelics are being extensively studied in clinical research focused on treating mental health issues: psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and DMT.
6. Regulation: The 1971 United Nations’ Convention on Psychotropic Substances regulates approximately 200 psychotropic substances divided into four schedules, with Schedule I listing those with the highest potential for abuse. The convention does not specify the count, or the types of substances classified as psychedelics.
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