2LT International News

CANBERRA, Australia: Australia has become the first country to allow the prescribing of certain psychedelic substances to patients suffering from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Australian physicians can prescribe MDMA, also known as ecstasy, for PTSD, and psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, to treat patients with extreme depression.

The two drugs have been placed on the list of approved medicines by the country’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Australian scientists were surprised by the move, and one said it has placed Australia “at the forefront of research in this field,” according to Reuters.

There have been very few advancements in the treatment of persistent mental health issues in the last 50 years, said Chris Langmead, deputy director of the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, as reported by Reuters.

Two US states have approved the use of psychedelics. Oregon was the first to legalize the adult use of psilocybin, and Colorado followed in 2022.

The US Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018.

However, the American Psychiatric Association has not endorsed the use of psychedelics in treatment, noting that the FDA has yet to offer a final determination.

In addition, medical experts from around the world stressed that more research is needed on the effectiveness of, and risks posed, by psychedelics, which can cause hallucinations.

“There are concerns that evidence remains inadequate and moving to clinical service is premature; that incompetent or poorly equipped clinicians could flood the space; that treatment will be unaffordable for most; that formal oversight of training, treatment, and patient outcomes will be minimal or ill-
informed,” said Dr. Paul Liknaitzky, head of Monash University’s Clinical Psychedelic Lab, as quoted by Reuters.

However, Litnaitzky said the opportunity for Australians to access the drugs for specific conditions is unique.

“There is excitement about drug policy progress, about the prospect of being able to offer patients more suitable and tailored treatment without the constraints imposed by clinical trials and rigid protocols,” he said.