Lecture Notes on Psychedelics

Jun 16, 2024

Lecture Notes on Psychedelics

Introduction

Speaker: Michael Pollan, Author of This Is Your Mind on Plants Topic: Answering questions on Twitter about psychedelics

LSD and Its Effects

How Does LSD Work?

  • Molecule Structure: Similar to serotonin (important neurotransmitter for mood, etc.)
  • Receptor Binding: LSD fits serotonin receptors more snugly than serotonin itself, lasting longer
  • Agonist: Activates receptors causing various effects
  • Unknowns: Cascading effects leading to changes in perception & consciousness not fully understood

Concerns About LSD Inducing Psychosis

  • No confirmed cases of memory erasure or brain rewrites from LSD
  • Psychotic breaks possible but very rare
  • Caution especially if predisposed to schizophrenia

Avoiding a Bad Trip

  • Flight Instructions (from research trials):
    • Don't fight sensations of going crazy, dying, or dissolving
    • Surrender and relax
    • Guided experiences recommended for support and processing

Concept of Ego Death

  • Meaning: Sense of self dissolves, possible ecstatic experience
  • Personal Experience: Michael's example of self-explosion into post-it notes
  • Implications: Can result in feelings of merging with cosmos/nature/others

Microdosing

  • Definition: Tiny doses of psychedelics (1/10 of normal dose)
  • Purpose: Claimed to improve well-being, productivity, creativity
  • Evidence: Effectiveness still undetermined; placebo effect likely

Geometric Hallucinations from DMT

  • Differences attributed to set (expectations) and setting (environment)
  • Organic vs Synthetic Drugs: Organic (e.g., mushrooms) have natural imagery; synthetic (e.g., DMT) often geometric

Medical Applications of Psychedelics

LSD and Schizophrenia

  • Advice: Not advisable due to potential for worsening conditions
  • Psychedelics introduce entropy which may be harmful for already disordered brains

Treating Anxiety with Psilocybin

  • Cancer Patients: Psilocybin helps confront mortality, reducing anxiety about death
  • Outcome: Provides peace and equanimity beneficial to end-of-life experience

Ayahuasca and Addiction

  • Some evidence supporting treatment of depression, less clear on addiction
  • Promise in treating various addictions using different psychedelics

DMT Entities

  • Common Experience: Reporting of elf-like creatures during DMT trips
  • Terence McKenna's Theory: Popularized observation; requires more research

Schedule I Drug Paradox

  • Definition: No accepted medical use (legal classification)
  • Current Research: Promising findings for addiction and mental health treatment
  • Discrepancy between legal status and medical research findings

History of LSD

  • Albert Hoffman's Discovery: Accidental exposure, initial belief of insanity followed by profound experience

Visual Impairment and Psychedelics

  • Unanswered question about effects on blind individuals

Research and Policy

Peyote vs Other Psychedelics

  • Peyote: Limited supply, used by Native Americans, not suitable for extensive research
  • Mescaline: Synthetic variant studied instead, practical challenges

Federal Research Barriers

  • Funding Issues: Lack of federal support due to drugs' controversial status
  • Exceptions: Limited NIH funding, emerging instances of federal support

Changing Perceptions

  • 60s Baggage: Negative reputation from disruptive societal impact
  • Future Outlook: Potential recognition as important mental health treatment

Final Note: Psychedelics are illegal and risky; proceed with caution.

Platform: Psychedelics Support