THE VIKING VOICE
SPRING 2022
The BIG Question: The Legalisation of Drugs
by Jett Dyason and Georgia Bradbury Should we legalise drugs? Some argue they have huge health benefits, others argue that it could damage our society. What do you think about the legalisation of drugs? In this article, we explore the thoughts of scientists at the school and their view of this controversial topic. We also look into the science behind how it can help aid people with severe diseases and using these drugs as medicines. In an attempt to get around the prevailing issue of PTSD in veterans and soldiers, scientists are researching treatments from a range of angles. Recently, a study funded by the multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in Santa Cruz, CA, investigated the potential exploration of MDMA, which is the main active ingredient in the common party drug known as “ecstacy”.
MDMA causes the release of neurotransmitters, chemical messengers to brain cells that change brain activity. They include “feel-good” hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, as well as oxytocin, prolactin, cortisol, and vasopressin. Because depression is a growing issue in our society, the main ingredient in the drug known as ‘magic mushrooms’, psilocybin, has been experimented on for the use of severe depression. Psilocybin has effects that are similar to those of LSD. People may experience feelings of relaxation and euphoria. The substance works by acting on pathways in the brain that involve the use of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This action results in changes in perception and altered consciousness. After taking psilocybin, people may experience effects such as distorted perceptions, including an altered sense of time or place, euphoria, hallucinations, and highly spiritual or introspective experiences.
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