The latest installment of the ground-breaking study on the effects of psilocybin, aka magic mushrooms, brings more interesting news:
The experiment was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse. The results were published online Tuesday by the Journal of
Psychopharmacology.
Fourteen months after taking the drug, 64
percent of the volunteers said they still felt at least a moderate
increase in well-being or life satisfaction, in terms of things like
feeling more creative, self-confident, flexible and optimistic. And 61
percent reported at least a moderate behavior change in what they
considered positive ways.
That second question didn't ask for
details, but elsewhere the questionnaire answers indicated lasting
gains in traits like being more sensitive, tolerant, loving and
compassionate.
And yet this completely non-toxic naturally occurring substance is still illegal in the US. We don't know whether psilocybin could be integrated into existing mental health treatments, or simply become a recreational spiritual resource for responsible adults.
