L i v i n g We l l — M i n d
EGO TRIPPING A N O T- S O - N E W D R U G H A S E M E R G E D A S A F O R E R U N N E R I N C O N V E R S AT I O N S
You could say the 1970s are alive and well
money. The value of the psychedelic-re-
for conditions that weren’t targeted in the
across America. Bell-bottoms are back in
lated market today is estimated at more
FDA approval process. Based on prelim-
fashion (again). Disco hooks have resur-
than $3 billion, with major biotech and
inary research, mental health providers
faced in pop hits. And even our collective
pharmaceutical companies expected to
use smaller doses on patients who strug-
anxieties feel reminiscent of the Viet-
double that figure by 2026 as psychedel-
gle with anxiety, depression and other
nam era: economic instability, political
ic-assisted therapies progress.
treatment-resistant mental disorders.
upheaval and pending environmental
One substance, ketamine, is at the
And some remarkable results are emerg-
collapse. Perhaps it’s natural, then, that
forefront of this culture shift. That’s
ing anecdotally and in peer-reviewed
psychedelics are making big headlines.
partly because it was first introduced
journals. “We have seen a phenomenal
In 2022, the buzz surrounding psy-
as a prescription anesthetic in the early
response,” Monica Robles, a psychiatrist
chedelic compounds, such as MDMA
1970s during the Vietnam War. Though
who runs Seaside Oaks Psychiatry in
or the psilocybin in magic mushrooms,
technically not a psychedelic, the sub-
Naples, says.
isn’t centered on the nightlife scene or
stance has hallucinogenic properties. It
The psychiatrist of 20-plus years
underground market. Health and men-
quickly started circulating as a club drug,
describes her practice as conventional
tal wellness clinicians are leading the
dubbed Special K or simply ‘K.’
and conservative as far as treatment
charge—armed with an expanding body
More recently, psychiatrists have
methodology. So she was skeptical when
of medical research and big-investor
started using ketamine off-label—that is,
talk of ketamine and psychedelics began
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