Psychedelics Research and Treatments: The Current State of Research and Best Practices Guidance

This episode features leading researcher on therapeutic uses of psychedelics, Dr. Matthew W. Johnson of the Sheppard Pratt Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Dr. Johnson summarizes the current research on the potential benefits of psychedelics for treatment of depression, addiction, and other conditions; the known risks and benefits of such treatments; and Dr. Johson’s important work on developing best practice guidance in relation to safety, risk assessment, and ethics in psychedelics research and treatment. We discuss recent developments in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) consideration of a request for approval of MDMA for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, the special problems the FDA faces in assessing psychedelics for possible therapeutic uses, and the dangers that continued unregulated uses of psychedelics pose in the absence of FDA approval and regulation. We end by hearing from Dr. Johnson about his future research plans.