63. The Psychedelic Renaissance Turns 25 | Dr. Keith Heinzerling

Think Neuro

To say that the medical world’s view of psychedelics has changed would be a vast understatement. Until about two decades ago, drugs like LSD and psilocybin—the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms—were considered dangerous party drugs. Then, a small group of scientists began reconsidering the therapeutic value of the compounds, known for centuries in many non-industrial cultures. In 2000, doctors at Johns Hopkins got regulatory approval to study the drugs. Since then, doctors there and elsewhere have shown that psychedelics can help people quit smoking, quit drinking, ease anxiety, and lift depression. PNI started its Treatment & Research In Psychedelics (TRIP) program in 2019, under the direction of Dr. Keith Heinzerling. So far, TRIP has completed three studies of psychedelics which are difficult to do because the drugs are still illegal under federal law. More studies particularly focusing on depression are underway. Working on those trials has made Dr. Heinzerling one of the foremost experts on psychedelics. Listen to the episode to learn more about the “psychedelic renaissance,” now in its 25th year, from a practitioner who has a thoughtful take on the promise of these once-shunned compounds.