Should the NHS really use magic mushrooms to treat mental health?
BBC••world
Key Points:
- Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, shows promise as a fast-acting treatment for mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and addiction, with several clinical trials underway, including a major one by UK biotech Compass Pathways.
- While some patients report life-changing benefits under clinical supervision, experts caution that psychedelic treatments can also cause severe adverse effects, including anxiety, panic attacks, and long-term psychological harm, underscoring the need for rigorous safety evaluations.
- Current UK law restricts psychedelic substances like psilocybin and LSD to research use only, but there is growing pressure from scientists and psychiatrists to ease regulations and make these therapies accessible through the NHS if proven safe and effective.
- Critics highlight challenges in separating
