7 myths about psychedelic drugs like LSD that are doing more harm than good

Scientists are increasingly hopeful that certain types of psychedelic drugs will one day be approved for medical purposes like treating depression and anxiety.But what definesa psychedelic(or hallucinogen, as they are also known)' How is it different from other drugs like cocaine or alcohol' And what makes a "trip" on one psychedelic ' like acid, for example ' distinct from a trip on another' Read on to find out.SEE ALSO:Why psychedelics like magic mushrooms kill the ego and fundamentally transform the brainDON'T MISS:The truth about 'microdosing,' which involves taking tiny amounts of psychedelics like LSD1. Psychedelics are the ultimate party drug.The myth: Ecstasy (MDMA), acid (LSD), and magic mushrooms (psilocybin) are frequently portrayed as "recreational" or partydrugs.Why it's bogus: Manyscientists believethis label is unwarranted. Patients with cancer who have participated in clinical trials ofpsilocybin (the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms) describe their psychedelic trip asanything but recreational. In most cases, these tripsbring up feelings of panic, anxiety, and fearfeelings that eventually subside and are replaced by what appear to be lasting,positive personality changes. Some people describe being more optimistic about life; others say they've experienced a complete change in perspective that's allowed them toimprove their relationships.2. They're "all natural."The myth:It's often assumed that hallucinogenicdrugs like LSD, as opposed to stimulants like cocaine, are derived from nature.Why it's bogus: While twohallucinogenic drugsmagic mushrooms and ayahuasca* canbe found naturally, LSD is made synthetically and usually processed into strips that can be absorbed by placing them on the tongue.*Ayahuascais brewed from the macerated and boiled vines of the Banisteriopsis caapi (yage) plant and the Psychotria viridis (chacruna) leaf, and it has been used for centuries as a traditional spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the indigenous peoples of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.3: Psychedelics will always make you "trip."The myth:If you take a hallucinogen, you will experience what's known as a "trip," which involves hallucinations that may include things like seeing sounds or hearing colors.Why it's bogus: Most recent studies of psychedelics focus on "trip treatment"essentially giving someone what's considered a "full" dose of psychedelics.But as this important research has gained steam, so too has another trend that has not yet been studied: microdosing. Microdosing involves taking tiny doses of psychedelic drugs that are too small to induce a trip. Still, whilepeople in Silicon Valley and elsewhereclaim to be using microdosingto increase their productivity,it's impossible to say if theseanecdotal reports are legitimate without further research.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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