Making Sense with Sam Harris #377 — The Future of Psychedelic Medicine 2
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Jul 26, 2024 
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, a leading researcher on psychedelics in mental health, and Dr. Sarah Betty, an emergency medicine physician and psychedelic facilitator, dive deep into the transformative potential of MDMA for PTSD treatment. They discuss the historical context of psychedelic research and the ongoing battles with the FDA. Their conversation highlights the remarkable success of clinical trials, the challenges of ethical therapy practices, and the urgency for innovative psychiatric treatments, particularly for veterans. It's a bold exploration of healing through psychedelics in a complex landscape.
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ER and Psychedelics
- Sarah Abedi's ER experience revealed chronic mental health issues were a major factor in recurring visits.
- Many patients found traditional treatments ineffective, turning to psychedelics as a last resort.
History of Psychedelic Research
- Research on psychedelics, promising in the mid-20th century, was halted by the 1960s counterculture and the subsequent war on drugs.
- MDMA, emerging later, faced similar restrictions despite its therapeutic potential.
Challenges of Treating PTSD
- PTSD, often linked to traumatic events involving death or serious injury, is difficult to treat due to frequent comorbidities like depression and anxiety.
- Current treatments, including SSRIs and talk therapies, are often ineffective or too distressing for patients.
