Last updated : July 14, 2025
Back in the 1950s and ’60s, physicians prescribed psychedelic drugs to treat anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence, and anxiety in terminal illness patients. Additionally, there was a lot of research underway into using psychedelic drugs for other medical conditions. Advocates for these drugs say that research was halted prematurely due to President Richard Nixon’s “War on Drugs.”
However, other factors contributed to the demise of psychedelic drug research. Tighter regulation of pharmaceutical research played a heavy part. Moreover, controlled clinical trials weren’t living up to the claims of those who believed psychedelic drugs were the wave of the future. This led to a sharp lack of interest within the pharmaceutical industry in funding further clinical trials.
Once the nonmedical use of these drugs was prohibited in 1970, things fell completely to the wayside. Most pharmaceutical drugs were soon classified as “drugs of abuse.”
Why the current resurgence?
Psychedelics have earned a bad reputation during the years since 1970. Mostly because the general public has gained its knowledge from cases in which these drugs were used illegally. Illicit substances used in unsupervised nonmedical situations with bad outcomes were the basis on which opinions were formed.
The medical community has begun to take another look at using these drugs as a viable treatment source, however. This time there are strict stipulations in place. Psychedelic therapy must be provided in a controlled setting and the relationship between therapist and patient is a critical element for successful treatment to ensue.
Types of psychedelic drugs used for therapy
Psychedelic drugs have strong effects on conscious experience. It’s thought that enforcing positive thoughts and reactions to past triggers while under the influence of these drugs could, in effect, “reprogram” the patient’s thought process. This would allow them to react differently when thoughts of depression, for instance, enter their minds.
There are several drugs used for this type of therapy.
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
Potentially, LSD could be used to treat addiction to drugs or alcohol and to ease the anxiety of terminally ill patients. However, there are potential risks with taking this drug including developing a psychosis or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, otherwise known as flashbacks.
Side effects may include
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Paresthesia
- Altered consciousness
- Distorted sense of space and time
Psilocybin
These mushrooms are growing in popularity within medical circles and on the street. Studies are in progress to discover the value, if any, of using this drug to treat tobacco and alcohol addiction and in instances of severe anxiety associated with terminal illness. Patients are at risk, though, of developing psychosis or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder—flashbacks.
Side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Paresthesia
- Altered consciousness, both visual and auditory
Ayahuasca brew
This drug is found in the Chacruna leaf, Chagropanga vine, ayahuasca vine, and other admixture plants. Scientists believe it could be beneficial for treating addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and tobacco. It is also thought to help those suffering from depression and anxiety. It too carries a risk of developing psychosis. Serotonin syndrome could become a danger if it interacts with other medications.
Side effects include:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Altered consciousness that consists of visions, auditory distortions, ideations
- Altered mood
- Distorted sense of space and time
Mescaline
Found in the Peyote cactus, mescaline may be a source of treatment for alcohol addiction. However, it carries a risk of psychosis.
Side effects include:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Altered consciousness that consists of visions, auditory distortions, ideations
- Altered mood
- Distorted sense of space and time
- Paresthesia
MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
MDMA is found in the Sassafras tree and could potentially treat neurocognitive deficits, such as memory impairment. Sleep disruption and short-term depression are two other conditions therapists are eager to research.
Side effects include:
- Euphoria
- Arousal
- Perceptual alternation
- Enhanced empathy
- Enhanced sociability
MDMA-assisted therapy is being studied as a social anxiety treatment in adults with autism. No findings have been published as yet.
This new movement is gung-ho
The United States government is looking into the benefits of using psychedelic therapy too. Ongoing studies are determining whether or not they are a viable treatment for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Moreover, there are studies specifically focused on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for those suffering from chronic treatment-resistant PTSD.
Currently, the prognosis is hopeful.
Using psychedelic drugs as a useful treatment for those who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression, or PTSD could change the lives of millions of adults, both in our country and around the world. These conditions are already prevalent within both the general public and the veteran community. They are responsible for substantial costs in the health care system.
Discovering a life-changing treatment for these people is worth investigating—under the care of a licensed therapist in a controlled setting.
