7/28/25
Although some psychoactive substances are a recipe for disaster, others promise life-changing benefits, especially for the 3.5 hundred million people with depression and 3.74 hundred million people with anxiety disorders.
Psychedelics provide visual, auditory, and hallucinogenic sensory experiences, affecting mood, perception, and cognition. Two popular forms are psilocybin (the “magic” compound of magic mushrooms) and peyote. They have been used in healing and spiritual traditions for at least 5,000 years.
Virtually all civilizations have explored perception-altering substances. For example, the Tiwanaku shamans from the pre-Columbian era specialized in ceremonies and healing treatments using various psychoactive compounds. Archeologists have found evidence of psychedelic use in Greek, Roman, Indian, and Aztec history, among others. Eastern therapies, in particular, consisted of these medicines.
The modern (Western) world has a rocky relationship with psychedelics. They were trending research topics during the 1950s and 1960s. However, due to association with “counterculture” and fear during the War on Drugs, they were stigmatized. They also pose a threat to conventional antidepressants and related treatments. The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances banned them in 1971, triggering many countries to follow suit. The United States has prohibited the use, possession, and sale of psychedelics for decades through the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Consequently, scientists were forced to disregard the possibility of an alternative to conservative medication. Even today, the CSA ranks them as a Schedule I substance, claiming them to have minimal therapeutic benefits and a great risk of addiction. This is a disproportionate ranking. Other drugs proven to be addictive, have a risk of overdose, and negatively impact physical and mental health (such as cocaine, fentanyl, and morphine) are ranked as Schedule II substances.
The Western world began to accept psychedelics again after several well-known public figures vouched for them. When trials were allowed again in the late 1990s, and again in 2020, they reported therapeutic benefits, especially from psilocybin, including reduced depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia symptoms. They have also been effective in combating alcohol and tobacco addictions. Research has shown that although repeated consumption might increase the user’s tolerance, they are not addictive. There are no recorded cases of overdose on psychedelics alone.
The Food and Drug Administration gave certain psychedelics a breakthrough status about 8 years ago. Psychedelics are still banned in many states, but some are in the process of being legalized or at least decriminalized.
Legalizing the use of psychedelics is not a flawless action, however. For patients with preexisting health conditions, physiological effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rate pose risks. Taking high doses of psychedelics risks a “bad trip.” Bad trips usually involve negative emotions, anxiety, delusion, and confusion, which might prompt dangerous behavior, especially without supervision. Nevertheless, despite how bad a trip can be, it is almost guaranteed that the negative experience will subside when the psychedelic effect concludes. Still, scientists recommend taking them under professional supervision.
Enforcing strict rules against non-clinical use is a worse option. As per the CSA’s restrictions, most people have to go through a doctor to take psychedelics. In the United States, healthcare is expensive and exclusive. Looking at demographic data, many minorities, whose native culture provided modern science with psychedelics, are ironically the ones who have the least access. Although precautions are important to avoid negative consequences, redlining psychedelics excludes patients who cannot afford it—those who might need it most.
To prevent this, two main options present themselves: include psychedelic therapy in basic healthcare plans, or legalize psychedelics and encourage professional guidance. Since poverty and mental health disorders are correlated, people without insurance, such as unemployed and houseless individuals, would still be barred from access. Combined with recently enforced federal budget cuts, the first option provides a less optimistic outlook.
Ideal treatments consist of half the amount of therapy, which would be cost-effective and safer. If psychedelics were legalized, people might be able to buy their own medicine, surpassing therapist costs. For example, a dose of mushrooms costs around $25. This is microscopic compared to professional therapy, which ranges from $200 to $600 per session. Not only would this be affordable, but it could also offer comparable, or even greater, benefits than some traditional treatments.
Ancient cultures used psychedelics not only for medicinal purposes, but also for rituals, celebrations, and spiritual exploration. Many people who don’t have access to healthcare or prefer not to go to therapy can greatly benefit from these remedies. They can also improve performance in educational and athletic environments.
From better mood and cognition to recovery from mental health tragedies and trauma, psychedelics are a low-risk, high-reward drug worth exploring. With the market expected to grow to approximately 7 billion by 2027, a psychedelic revolution is approaching. If dangerous psychoactive substances like alcohol are socially and legally acceptable, then psychedelics deserve to be considered for legalization. Billions of people worldwide can benefit from the therapeutic potential of psychedelics when used safely, ethically, and under professional guidance.