Lasting psychological effects of psilocybis – the active ingredient in “shrooms” – could be used as therapy for cancer patients who suffer depression or long-term smokers tackling addiction.
In trials at Johns Hopkins University, 51 people were given a moderate to high dose of the illegal drug under controlled conditions.
In 60% of the subjects, “openness” – their imagination, feelings, abstract ideas and broad-mindedness – changed more than it would in most adults over the course of decades. Fourteen months later, changes in openness remained evident in many participants who had reported a “mystical experience”.
Study leader Roland R Griffiths believes the effects that have lasted more than a year could be permanent, potentially helping cancer patients to overcome post diagnosis anxiety, or smokers to quit.
That’s kind of weird and wonderful news somehow – anything that can help cancer patients has got to be welcomed – although most people would need to be open-minded in the first instance to try magic mushrooms.
Any help in quitting smoking is a major plus too, as anyone whom has tried to kick the weed will attest.
