Will Psychedelics Fry My Brain? — By Billy
Once a week, I get asked by someone scared of using psychedelics if the medicine will fry their brain. No doubt, this comes from old commercials warning about the dangers of all kinds of drugs. In many cases, psychedelics have been shown to have lower risk profiles than over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol. Instead of trusting what your friends think, why not consider the viewpoint of a medical professional? Below I have put together quotes from 20 medical professionals, medical professors, doctors, psychiatrists or psychologists. These medical professionals provide a broad spectrum of views that allows one to understand what to expect from psychedelic medicine.
1. Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D. — Head of Imperial College London Psychedelic Research Group
“The term ‘psychedelics’ comes from Greek words for ‘mind-revealing’ — which is what these drugs do.”
2. David Nutt, Psychiatrist — Professor Imperial College London
“Many people describe psychedelic experiences as profoundly meaningful, which may help them develop a sense of purpose in life or envisage an alternative to being stuck in a rut with alcohol.”
3. Matthew Johnson, Ph.D. — Professor of Psychiatry at John Hopkins University
“One of the reasons why psychedelics can be so effective is that people are doing their heavy lifting. …At least in the type of work that [I do in] clinical research with psychedelics, they have done (rightfully so) the heavy lifting. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I took some pill, and thanks to Pfizer, who was able to manipulate my serotonin system, I’m feeling better. Thanks to Doc So-and-so, who knew I needed Lexapro rather than Prozac.’ It’s like, ‘No, you faced your demons, dude. You did the hard work. You cried your heart out about that thing you did you don’t feel good about, and you came out with a laundry list of what you need to fix with your life, and with this renewed sense because you feel like you’ve earned it.'”
4. Roland Griffith, Ph.D. — Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
“There is such a sense of authority that comes out of the primary mystical experience that it can threaten existing hierarchical structures. We end up demonizing these compounds. Can you think of another area of science regarded as so dangerous and taboo that all research gets shut down for decades? It is unprecedented in modern science.”
5. Ben Sessa, Psychiatrist — Chief Medical Officer at AWAKN Life Science
“Enough of the ongoing belief that mental health disorders cannot be cured; this is the legacy of the ill-informed. Psychedelics have the potential to heal when used correctly and with psychotherapy pathways built for purpose.”
6. Rick Strassman, MD — Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine
“The history of human use of plants, mushrooms, and animals for their psychedelic effects is far older than written history and probably predates the appearance of the modern human species. Psychedelics show you what’s in and on your mind; those subconscious thoughts and feelings are hidden, covered up, forgotten, out of sight, maybe even completely unexpected, but imminently present.”
7. David Nichols, Pharmacologist — President Heffter Research Institute
“Right now, the public impression of these drugs is that they’re dangerous … If they start hearing these drugs are used to treat people who are in pain, dying or have PTSD, I think the perception will change.”
8. Stan Grof, Psychiatrist — Founder Grof Legacy Training
“Many of us who have experienced psychedelics feel that they are sacred tools, and they open spiritual awareness.”
9. James Fadiman, Psychologist — Professor Sofia University
“In the scientific world, “fear” is usually called “skepticism.” Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide
10. Julie Holland, Psychiatrist — Author and Advisor of Various Companies
“With psychedelics … there is this epiphany that everything is connected and that we’re all tiny little beings on a huge planet. If you pull back and see the big picture, you see that we are all one organism, interconnected or interdependent.”
11. Gabor Mate, MD — Author
“For years, I’ve advocated the responsible use of psychedelic modalities in healing.”
12. Rosalind Watts, Psychologist — Imperial College London
“Although many of us think of psychedelics as dangerous drugs, it’s time to rethink. They are non-toxic, non-addictive, have few side effects, and could offer relief for people suffering from various psychological difficulties.”
13. David Rabin, MD, Ph.D., Psychiatrist & Neuroscientist — Co-Founder Apollo Neuro
“History is critical to understand how medicine used to be used because now, often, there’s a stigma in thinking about that when we talk about these medicines, we call them drugs and, we talk about them as being used recreationally, which is not the way they were ever intended to be used and for the most part, not the way they were ever written about in history. And pretty much when you look through all of human history, these things were used to build connection, build community. They were used to facilitate healing and trauma, as tools to help us enter states, either individually or with a healer or with one another, to help bring people and communities closer together and get people more on the same page and to help people get through tough times.”
14. Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D. — Director, Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy at Mount Sinai
“If you’re in a relaxed environment with the right setting and right music, and you’re not being overstimulated and don’t have an agenda of a party, you start to go places in your autobiography, in your past… You can start to deal with some challenging material.”
15. Lynn Marie Morski, Physician and Attorney — President Psychedelic Medicine Association
“Most health care providers learned nothing about psychedelics in their training, so to ensure that psychedelic medicines are accessible by everyone who can benefit from them, the doctors, therapists, and other clinicians that patients go to seek help need to be well-informed about these therapies so that they can share that information with their patients.”
16. James Rucker, Psychiatrist — Kings College London
“Psychedelics are more legally restricted than heroin or cocaine, but no evidence indicates that psychedelic drugs are habit forming, little evidence indicates that they are harmful in controlled settings, and much historical evidence shows that they could have been used in common psychiatric disorders. Instead, evidence proves they have clinical efficacy in anxiety associated with advanced cancer, obsessive-compulsive disorder, tobacco and alcohol addiction, and cluster headaches.”
17. Wayne Dyer, Ph.D., Psychologist — Author
Regarding Ayahuasca: “It teaches us about divine love, an amazing experience, check it out, learn about it.”
18. Deepak Chopra, MD — Author
“I don’t believe psychedelics are a panacea, but I think they have a big role…with PTSD, in mental distress depression, suicide prevention and much more.”
19. Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. — Author
“I wouldn’t be here today doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for psychedelics.”
20. William Richards, Psychologist — Psychiatry Department, John Hopkins University School of Medicine
“Psychedelics should in no way be confused with highly addictive, often toxic drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines (and yes, let’s say it openly, alcohol and nicotine).”
The above twenty quotes show that psychedelic therapy is hard work and helps people change their perceptions and thinking. There is no evidence that psychedelic medicine is addictive or dangerous. There is a long history of using psychedelics by indigenous people, and they are more likely to show people a spiritual experience than a good time. One should not make their decision based only on the thoughts of others, but it is wise to consider the thinking of people with an extensive medical background.
