Making Sense with Sam Harris #337 — The Future of Psychedelic Medicine
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Oct 4, 2023 
Jeannie Fontana, MD-PhD, a trailblazer in healthcare and ALS research funding, joins Robin Carhart-Harris, the founder of the Center for Psychedelic Research. They explore the TREAT Initiative in California, aiming to secure vital funding for psychedelic treatments in mental health. The conversation covers the legal landscape for psychedelics, the importance of safe therapeutic practices, and ongoing advocacy efforts. They also delve into the neuroscience behind psychedelics, discussing their potential for treating conditions like PTSD and their impact on brain function.
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Promising Compounds and Indications
- MDMA-assisted therapy is closest to FDA approval for PTSD, followed by psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Other compounds like ketamine, LSD, DMT, mescaline, and ibogaine are also being researched.
Safety and Toxicity Profiles
- Psychedelics vary in their physiological toxicity profiles; psilocybin and LSD have large therapeutic indexes, while MDMA and ketamine carry more risks.
- Further research is crucial to fully understand the long-term safety and efficacy of these compounds.
Brain Network Dynamics and Psychedelics
- Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT disrupt the integrity of brain networks, particularly higher-level ones involved in cognition.
- This disintegration allows for increased communication between normally segregated brain areas.
