In Brief: Psilocybin and magic mushrooms
3 min read
Standfirst: In an occasional series, staff from Parliament’s libraries give The House choice nuggets of research. This week, Professor Grant Hill-Cawthorne, librarian of the House of Commons and managing director of research and information, looks at Psilocybin and magic mushrooms.
Neither plant nor animal, fungi inhabit a mysterious in-between world of decay and renewal. As scientific understanding of how they function develops, we are beginning to gain insights into their strange and unique world. With their sometimes beautiful (and sometimes hideous) fruiting bodies and tentacled mycelia spreading below the surface, mushrooms are distinctive, fascinating, and complex. The more I learn about them, the more incredible they seem.
There are over 50 species of fungi that contain the psychoactive substance psilocybin. When consumed recreationally, these fungi can have hallucinogenic effects, altering perception, behaviour or mood. Known commonly as magic mushrooms, they have been used recreationally by many cultures and are referenced in popular culture. However, the risks and side effects associated with their consumption mean that magic mushrooms are classified as a Class A/Schedule 1 drug and possessing, supplying or producing them is illegal in the UK. It is worth noting that whilst psilocybin is found in magic mushrooms, it can also be produced synthetically.
Despite these restrictions, scientific research has identified psilocybin as a potential treatment for mental health problems, in particular depression. Johns Hopkins University in the US found that administering psilocybin alongside psychotherapy was effective in treating depression for up to a year in some patients. Another study found that one dose of psilocybin could have a fast acting and long-term impact on patients experiencing treatment-resistant depression. Further studies are planned, and academics argue that more research is needed to fully understand how psilocybin can most effectively be used in the treatment of mental health.
The growing body of evidence pointing to its efficacy as a treatment for depression has led to the legalisation of psilocybin for therapeutic use in some US states. In Australia it can be prescribed by authorised psychiatrists as treatment for certain mental health conditions. However, psilocybin is not currently available on the UK market as a treatment for depression.
Whilst the import, export, production, supply, and possession of controlled drugs are illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 does allow for the legitimate use of certain controlled drugs. Drugs are classified according to their medicinal value and perceived risk. Psilocybin has been placed in Schedule 1, meaning that it is considered to have little or no medicinal value and is therefore highly restricted.
Institutions wishing to conduct research into the therapeutic use of psilocybin, or any other substance in Schedule 1, must hold a domestic controlled drugs licence issued by the Home Office. And whilst trials involving psilocybin have been run in the UK, research institutions have raised concerns about the financial and administrative burden associated with applying for such a licence and highlight potential delays in developing innovative medicines as a risk.
To address this, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has been tasked with exploring how to reduce the regulatory burden placed on those wishing to carry out research that involves Schedule 1 drugs. This includes synthetic cannabinoid receptor agents (SCRAs) as well as psychedelic substances such as psilocybin.
In conclusion it is fair to say that this topic is likely to continue to be of interest in subsequent years. Innovations and advancements in our understanding of fungi, psychotropic substances and mental health conditions are bound to continue and it will be fascinating to see how these seemingly separate things intersect.
Read more about access to psilocybin treatments in the House of Commons debate pack by Elizabeth Rough, Katherine Garratt and Nikki Sutherland. Browse more topical research on the House of Commons Library website.
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