UNC Professor Reveals Personal Motive in Studying Psychedelics for Mental Health
Professor Bryan Roth of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says that psychedelic drugs had demonstrated in studies that they had miraculous effects on mental illnesses. Roth also revealed that his research was personal, explaining that his mother suffered from schizophrenia all her life, having had her first episode when he was about five. This, Roth said, has motivated him to learn more about what goes on in the brain.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which individuals interpret reality in an abnormal way. Patients suffer from delusions, hallucinations and disordered behavior and thinking.
After being legally restricted from research and use for decades, psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms are now being studied as treatments for anxiety and depression. We have seen the number of studies examining the potential of psychedelic drugs in treating various mental health conditions increase significantly these last few years. Reports show that these drugs set off life-altering experiences, with recent studies also suggesting that some of them may have valid uses.
Despite the advancements made in the treatment of other medical conditions, the treatment of mental illnesses hasn’t changed in decades and is still limited primarily to medication and psychotherapy. Roth explained that while tripping on psilocybin mushrooms or LSD didn’t sound like a traditional therapy session, brain scans had shown that psychedelic substances increased connectivity among various regions of the brain. Basically, he continued, one dose of psychedelics had a strong and long-lasting effect on individuals who suffered from difficult-to-treat depression.
In November 2020, Oregon became the first state in the country to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for use in psychedelic-assisted therapy in supervised settings. Psilocybin is the active ingredient found in these hallucinogenic mushrooms. Roth hopes that North Carolina will soon follow suit.
However, before these treatments are available to the general public, a significant amount of work needs to be done. For instance, integrated treatments and plans on how these drugs are to be used need to be discussed and implemented.
Roth’s laboratory was recently awarded a $27 million grant by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under its Focused Pharma program. The program’s objective is to develop a new class of psychotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of various neuro-psychiatric conditions.
Currently, however, psilocybin and LSD are still classified as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Drugs in this classification are illegal and are labeled dangerous. Researchers hope to change this, and the work being done by companies such as Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO) could unlock the benefits of these substances in treating a number of mental health indications.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SILO
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
Professor Bryan Roth of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says that psychedelic drugs had demonstrated in studies that they had miraculous effects on mental illnesses. Roth also revealed that his research was personal, explaining that his mother suffered from schizophrenia all her life, having had her first episode when he was about five. This, Roth said, has motivated him to learn more about what goes on in the brain.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which individuals interpret reality in an abnormal way. Patients suffer from delusions, hallucinations and disordered behavior and thinking.
After being legally restricted from research and use for decades, psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms are now being studied as treatments for anxiety and depression. We have seen the number of studies examining the potential of psychedelic drugs in treating various mental health conditions increase significantly these last few years. Reports show that these drugs set off life-altering experiences, with recent studies also suggesting that some of them may have valid uses.
Despite the advancements made in the treatment of other medical conditions, the treatment of mental illnesses hasn’t changed in decades and is still limited primarily to medication and psychotherapy. Roth explained that while tripping on psilocybin mushrooms or LSD didn’t sound like a traditional therapy session, brain scans had shown that psychedelic substances increased connectivity among various regions of the brain. Basically, he continued, one dose of psychedelics had a strong and long-lasting effect on individuals who suffered from difficult-to-treat depression.
In November 2020, Oregon became the first state in the country to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for use in psychedelic-assisted therapy in supervised settings. Psilocybin is the active ingredient found in these hallucinogenic mushrooms. Roth hopes that North Carolina will soon follow suit.
However, before these treatments are available to the general public, a significant amount of work needs to be done. For instance, integrated treatments and plans on how these drugs are to be used need to be discussed and implemented.
Roth’s laboratory was recently awarded a $27 million grant by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under its Focused Pharma program. The program’s objective is to develop a new class of psychotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of various neuro-psychiatric conditions.
Currently, however, psilocybin and LSD are still classified as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Drugs in this classification are illegal and are labeled dangerous. Researchers hope to change this, and the work being done by companies such as Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO) could unlock the benefits of these substances in treating a number of mental health indications.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Silo Pharma Inc. (OTCQB: SILO) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SILO
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
