The Big Story Could psychedelic drugs be the future of medicine?
Oct 29, 2025
Dr. Roger McIntyre, a leading expert in psychiatry at the University of Toronto, explores the promising yet complex world of psychedelics as potential treatments for mental health issues. He discusses the intriguing effects of microdosing, recent findings from an LSD anxiety study, and the potential for psychedelics to challenge standard treatments. McIntyre also addresses societal shifts in acceptance, ongoing research, and the critical safety considerations for various users. Could these mind-altering substances alter the future of medicine?
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Microdosing Is Vague Scientifically
- Microdosing means taking a psychedelic dose that causes no noticeable changes in consciousness.
- Scientists caution the term is vague because the same dose affects people differently.
Low Doses Still Change The Brain
- Very low doses of LSD can change brain activity even when a person reports feeling nothing.
- MRI studies show measurable brain effects at doses like 5–10 micrograms of LSD.
Psychedelics Can Rapidly Rewire Networks
- Psychedelics appear to rapidly 'reset' abnormal brain networks involved in depression and anxiety.
- The drugs trigger neurotransmitter cascades that reorganize network architecture toward normal function.