The recent executive order signed by President Trump to facilitate research on the use of psychedelic drugs to treat addiction and depressive illnesses has me concerned. As a board certified psychiatrist with over 30 years in addiction and mental health treatment, I realize that all medications have risks and benefits. Apparently some studies have shown that psychedelic drugs may benefit some individuals with depression and abuse problems. However, the use of addictive medications such as narcotics may have serious risks.
In the past, the medical establishment has had a tendency to overprescribe these products with bias because sober medical judgment becomes overridden by the intoxicating lucrative nature of the pharmaceutical industry. This may lead to an increase in addictive behavior. This is complicated by savvy addicts who feign medical symptoms in order to get high on prescription medications.
Government’s role with the DEA should not only be to protect citizens from the dangers of incorrect use of medications, but also (in conjunction with the media) to aid in the stigmatization of the use of illicit substances. This was done successfully over the past four decades by stigmatizing tobacco instead of glamorizing it.
Dr. Joel I. Last
Greensburg