A Case For The Use Of Psilocybin In Palliative Care
The drug that reconciles death as part of the cycle of life
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Psilocybin and psilocin are the main psychoactive components of magic mushrooms.
Psilocybin has no known long-term side effects. It is not addictive, and it produces long-lasting antidepressive effects. In palliative care, 87% of volunteers have reported an increase in life satisfaction.
And though the data is consistent with its benefits, psilocybin is still registered as a schedule I drug in the US. Yet, with cannabis legalization, people are realizing its potential in healthcare. Besides, the legalization has opened the doors for psychedelic research.
Below, I arranged a list of why and how psilocybin can be used in palliative care.
The Overprescription Of Antidepressants And Their Impact On Human Health
Many anti-anxiety medications (AAM) and antidepressants (AD) increase the chances of physical dependency. What makes it more alarming is that AD users include 24% of women aged 60+ in the US and 13% of the US general population. In fact, AD prescription has more than doubled in the last 10 years. A prescription rate comparable to the opioid crisis.
Dependency
A study by The Journal of Addictive Behaviors showed that up to 55% of AD users experience some difficulty in quitting them. And ironically, a common symptom of AD and AAM withdrawal is depression and anxiety.
Psilocybin has shown no signs of physiological dependency in its users. A pilot study showed recovery from nicotine addiction. Yet, we know psilocybin has to be investigated on its potential use as an anti-anxiety treatment, but literature points towards its benefits.
