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The Truth About Psychedelics
Should psychedelics be legal?
Subscribe for optimistic tech and science stories!
You might be hearing about states and countries legalizing psychedelics. In 2020, Oregon became the first US state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize it for therapeutic use. In 2022, Colorado followed suit. Researchers have recently been touting the benefits of psychedelics for health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, cancer-related distress, and the list goes on. However - like cannabis - psilocybin is still illegal under US federal law.
Given that ongoing fight, you might have questions. I know I do. Are psychedelics the next weed? Is that a good thing? Are psychedelics dangerous? Do they actually have scientific benefits? How do psychedelics work? In this episode of Huge If True, we find out.
Thank you to Dr. Ben Rein, neuroscience researcher and consultant on this episode. If you enjoy Huge If True, you’ll love Dr. Rein’s videos on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.brein?lang=en
Chapters:
00:00 The big debate about psychedelics
02:16 What are psychedelics?
03:35 What do psychedelics do?
05:47 The history of psychedelics
06:46 The War on Drugs
09:09 New research on psychedelics
10:05 How do psychedelics work?
11:09 Psychedelics for PTSD and depression
12:21 Are psychedelics legal?
14:10 Why psychedelics are huge if true
15:15 What is Huge If True?
You can find me on TikTok here for short, fun tech explainers: https://www.tiktok.com/@cleoabram
You can find me on Instagram here for more personal stories: https://www.instagram.com/cleoabram
You can find me on Twitter here for thoughts, threads and curated news: https://twitter.com/cleoabram
Bio:
Cleo Abram is an Emmy-nominated independent video journalist. On her show, Huge If True, Cleo explores complex technology topics with rigor and optimism, helping her audience understand the world around them and see positive futures they can help build. Before going independent, Cleo was a video producer for Vox. She wrote and directed the Coding and Diamonds episodes of Vox’s Netflix show, Explained. She produced videos for Vox’s popular YouTube channel, was the host and senior producer of Vox’s first ever daily show, Answered, and was co-host and producer of Vox’s YouTube Originals show, Glad You Asked.
Additional reading and watching:
- Psychedelic Legalization & Decriminalization Tracker: https://psychedelicalpha.com/data/psychedelic-laws
- The Accidental Discovery of LSD, The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-accidental-discovery-of-lsd/379564/
- Psilocybin effects in patients with life-threatening cancer, Journal of Psychopharmacology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367557/
- MDMA effects on PTSD, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01336-3
- Psilocybin fMRI-measured brain mechanisms, Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-13282-7
- The real risks of psychedelics, explained by an expert | Dr. Matthew Johnson: https://youtu.be/ISM9OeWs7yw
- The “heroic dose” of psychedelics, according to Johns Hopkins | Dr. Matthew Johnson https://youtu.be/HGqFxjQI3is
- How psychedelics work, explained in under 6 minutes | Matthew Johnson https://youtu.be/yS9FBB19Ws0
- Ayahuasca, by VSauce https://youtu.be/U3lWVLuc6CE
- Expert Answers Psychedelics Questions From Twitter (ft. Michael Pollan) | Tech Support | WIRED https://youtu.be/IBLnSl8Q1NQ
- The Therapy Part of Psychedelic Therapy Is a Mess, Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/psychedelic-therapy-mess/
Vox: https://www.vox.com/authors/cleo-abram
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10108242/
Gear I use:
Camera: Sony A7SIII
Lens: Sony 16–35 mm F2.8 GM and 35mm prime
Audio: Sennheiser SK AVX
Music: Musicbed and Tom Fox
Follow along for more episodes of Huge If True: https://www.youtube.com/cleoabram?sub_confirmation=1
—
Welcome to the joke down low:
Q: Anyone know any jokes about sodium?
A: Na.
Use the word “na” in a comment to let me know you’re a real one who read to the end :) -
The Biggest Lie About Veganism
Are vegans less healthy than meat eaters? And is veganism really that much better for the environment and planet?
More on our VEGANISM Podcast Episode: https://youtu.be/AjfAcZl6BVI
Join our science mailing list: https://bit.ly/34fWU27
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Written by: Mitchell Moffit
Edited by: Luka Šarlija
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING ------
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165797
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaq0216
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1523119113
https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1402183111
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36900805/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17299475/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3862134/
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-020-01815-3
https://www.nurmi-study.com/
https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/research/epic-oxford-1
https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4897
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17299475/
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/12/1897
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31488424/
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.012865
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335750279_A_Perspective_on_the_Transition_to_Plant-Based_Diets_A_Diet_Change_May_Attenuate_Climate_Change_but_Can_It_Also_Attenuate_Obesity_and_Chronic_Disease_Risk
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-019-0552-0
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/23/5115
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378018306101
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-002-1356-1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4926535/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9224182/ -
How Psilocybin Can Rewire Our Brain, Its Therapeutic Benefits & Its Risks | Huberman Lab Podcast
In this episode, I discuss what psilocybin is (chemically) and how it works at the cellular and neural circuit level to trigger neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to rewire itself in ways that lead to long-lasting shifts in our emotional, cognitive and behavioral patterns and abilities. I discuss the emerging clinical trial evidence for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, addictions and other psychiatric challenges. I explain the typical duration and phases of a psilocybin journey, the different categories of dosages often used and I explain the importance of set, setting and support when using psychedelics. I explain which groups of people place themselves at great risk by taking psilocybin as well as groups that could benefit, and I highlight the rapidly changing legal and medical landscape around psilocybin. This episode is a thorough exploration of psilocybin from the scientific and clinical literature perspective and ought to be of interest to anyone curious about psilocybin, mental health, neuroplasticity and/or psychedelics more generally.
#HubermanLab #Science
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Articles
The neural basis of psychedelic action: https://go.nature.com/3VInMlE
The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers: https://bit.ly/3VW8iL7
Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression: https://bit.ly/3LKj6XK
Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression: https://bit.ly/42c7y6x
Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal: https://bit.ly/3wEvGRf
Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration: https://bit.ly/3HPHLZM
Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo: https://bit.ly/3HQ8J3z
Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics: https://bit.ly/44Gpwjx
Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression: https://bit.ly/3pjvu9N
Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: https://bit.ly/3sFSGMM
The costs and benefits of psychedelics on cognition and mood: https://bit.ly/3NNyEwI
Other Resources
The Physiological Sigh: https://youtu.be/rBdhqBGqiMc
Dr. Matthew Johnson: Psychedelic Medicine: https://hubermanlab.com/dr-matthew-johnson-psychedelic-medicine
Timestamps
00:00:00 Psilocybin, Legal Considerations
00:08:32 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, ROKA, HVMN
00:12:00 Psilocybin Becomes Psilocin in the Gut, Serotonin
00:17:00 The Serotonin 2A Receptor, Therapeutic Outcomes SSRIs vs. Psilocybin
00:21:40 Serotonin Receptor Expression; Visual Hallucinations & Eyes Closed
00:27:21 Safety & Cautions for Specific Patient Populations
00:29:13 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:30:28 Psilocybin, “Magic Mushrooms” Dosing, Micro-Dosing, “Heroic Doses”
00:36:21 Psychedelic Journey: Set, Setting & Support
00:43:43 Music & the Psilocybin Journey; Duration of Effects
00:48:58 Psilocybin & the Brain: Subjective Experiences, Perception
00:58:36 Sponsor: LMNT
00:59:48 Brain Networks & Therapeutic Outcomes
01:05:23 Creativity; Music, Emotionality & Psychedelic Journeys
01:12:39 Depression & Psychedelics as Neuroplasticity “Wedge”
01:16:53 Positive Psychedelic Journeys, Unity, “Oceanic Boundlessness”
01:25:23 “Bad Trips”, Anxiety & Physiological Sighs
01:32:57 Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin
01:36:11 Neuroplasticity, Structural Brain Changes & Psilocybin
01:48:08 Psychedelics: Therapeutic Breakthroughs & Depression
01:56:37 Combining Psilocybin Therapy & Talk Therapy, Antidepressant Effects
02:03:11 Psilocybin Experience & Mental Health
02:06:42 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com
Disclaimer: https://hubermanlab.com/disclaimer -
The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | Rick Doblin
Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question, and the results are promising. In this fascinating dive into the science of psychedelics, he explains how drugs like LSD, psilocybin and MDMA affect your brain -- and shows how, when paired with psychotherapy, they could change the way we treat PTSD, depression, substance abuse and more.
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