Psychedelia

2023: Australia first in the world to allow psychedelics - to treat depression

Australia has become the first country in the world to legalise the use of medical psychedelics to treat certain disorders. This was announced in early February 2023 by the local Ministry of Health.

In particular, doctors will be able to prescribe 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA), a semi-synthetic psychoactive compound of the amphetamine series belonging to the phenylethylamine group. MDMA will reportedly be used for PTSD therapy.

Australia becomes world's first country to legalise use of medical psychedelics

In addition, the use of psilocybin is allowed. It is a natural psychedelic prodrug drug compound released by more than 200 species of fungi. The Australian Department of Health notes that psilocybin will be prescribed to treat drug-resistant depression.

The Australian Medicines Administration (TGA) has transferred these substances from the list of prohibited to the list of controlled substances when prescribing them as medical therapy. The new rules come into force on July 1, 2023. However, as noted, as of this date, there are no psilocybin and MDMA products in Australia, the quality, safety and efficacy of which are confirmed by TGA specialists. Therefore, psychiatrists will have to prescribe disapproved psychedelics to patients.

There are many people who are immune to traditional treatments for mental illness, and the hope of something different, something new, is really important. The goal is to find out if this therapy is acceptable, safe and potentially beneficial for patients, "said Dr. Stephen Parker of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane.[1]

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