Australia to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and depression in world first

That is certainly an attention grabbing headline! And are these really treatments or rather symptom relievers?

To relieve symptoms is important as well and it offers opportunities for other treatments or recovery, but it may promote dependence or worse.

How many drug addicts may claim they have depression or other qualifying conditions in order to legally obtain psychoactive substances?

However, it is expected that the rollout of this new therapy will be slow given all the requirements and conditions attached to it.

"... A phase II trial, published late last year, showed that a 25 mg dose of psilocybin was twice as effective as a 1 mg dose in combating treatment-resistant depression, although significant side effects were noted. And a report on a phase III trial of MDMA described it as a “potential breakthrough treatment” for PTSD. The drugs have also shown potential in treating anxiety, anorexia and substance addiction.

Nations including the United States, Canada and Israel allow individual use of these drugs on compassionate grounds or in clinical trials, but on 1 July Australia will be the first to regulate the drugs as medications, to be prescribed by approved psychiatrists. ...

Among researchers’ concerns is that research has yet to show which patients are best suited to the treatments. “It’s not for everybody. We need to work out who these people are that are going to have bad experiences, and not recommend it,” ...
administered improperly, the drugs could give people bad trips and leave them with increased psychological issues. ..."

Australia to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and depression in world first Decision to make the previously illicit drugs available is dogged by suggestions the decision was rushed.