The Shifted Perspectives on Psychedelics

THE SHIFTED PERSPECTIVE ON PSYCHEDELICS

SCHEDULE 1 DRUGS MAY HAVE A PLACE IN TREATING MENTAL ISSUES

BY ASTRID I. VIERA

The late 60s were characterized by the “Make Love, Not War” movement, flower power, colorful swirls, the rise of the hippies, some of the best music made, and of course, the most free-spirited music festival, Woodstock. Some may have seen it as the best time to live. The rise of the hippie movement pushed for change among young people. At the time, many young people were not happy with society, causing them to isolate themselves into their own groups, going against the status quo. Being isolated from societal normalities, they desired to look at things from another perspective, in a different light. Every generation has had something to influence pop culture. Now, in the year 2022, the social media app TikTok is a large hub of influence for current pop culture, but in the 60s, the major influence for pop culture was drugs.

The age of psychedelic drugs was on the rise: this included lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, magic mushrooms, MDMA, and marijuana. Many people in the 60s and 70s were curious to try drugs after learning that LSD could expand people’s perspective on how they were able to look at things, or as some could say “open their minds” or the “third eye.” Psychedelic drugs have many different names, one being hallucinogens. Hallucinogens are strong psychoactive substances that affect the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex; this part of the brain is responsible for the shift in perception, perspective, and cognitive processes. Sounds, colors, and feelings can be intensified greatly. LSD may also produce hallucinations of sounds or objects that may not even be real or within reach.

Similar to the musicians of the 60s including Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles, some musical artists still use the mind-opening abilities of certain hallucinogens to produce music. Rapper A$AP Rocky also created music using psychedelics, producing his song “L$D” while on LSD. In producing the song, he got first-hand advice from a professor who studied LSD to understand the reactions to drugs while recording the song. The world of psychedelics is increasingly being openly talked about in different popular podcasts, shows, and short documentaries. A recent show, “Have A Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics” includes many celebrities speaking about their experiences on some of the better-known psychedelics. Another Netflix documentary called “Fantastic Fungi” explores the world of mushrooms, their properties and how they fit within the medicinal world.

Although psychedelics have been continuously used throughout the music industry, they have also made their way into a different industry, the medical field. These drugs have beneficial uses to many people with psychological disorders. Back in the 60s, many researchers had brought music into psychedelic psychotherapy. Since they were banned in the 70s, they were only available to those with licenses. Since psychedelics hold the capability to shift perception and perspective, they may have the potential to be used in a therapeutic way for people who suffer from mental health issues. Psychedelics have been introduced into different therapies to help those with post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Forbes, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs has begun a series of clinical trials to record an accurate effectiveness rate of psychedelic drugs as treatment for military veterans. Many veterans suffer from severe cases of PTSD due to the stress and trauma their job in the military might have put them through. Often this leads to other mental health conditions that include anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. The rate of suicide is much higher for military veterans versus the rate of suicide for civilians. One of the drugs that have gained momentum within the VA studies is MDMA, as well as psilocybin, which is an active compound within the magic mushrooms.

In order for the VA to prescribe these drugs to veterans, research must be published with statistics to prove that they have a positive effect with mental health issues and disorders. These drugs have been shown to have quick effects along with being long-lasting within the body. According to Forbes, many veterans have been going to foreign retreat centers that provide psychedelics to receive similar treatments to what the VA is currently studying. Healthcare professionals and researchers want to put a strong emphasis on how to safely administer and prescribe these medications.

The longer people stay curious and consistent in wanting to find new solutions to old problems, the sooner the world will become whole one small section at a time. One solution might work great for one person but not work as great for someone else, and that is okay as long as there are more options available. As the world begins to progress, what else could be more widely accepted or have a changed view for the better? If something as controversial as drugs are becoming more widely accepted, could canceled student debt, having A/C on the CSULB campus, or even flip flops become less controversial as well? Actually, let’s keep flip-flops controversial.