Back in the 1960’s, the Woodstock era, psychedelic drug use was pretty common for the younger generation, who are today’s baby boomers. New studies now reveal that today’s young people might be just as likely to use psychedelic drugs. These drugs are known to stimulate the brain receptors causing extreme emotion, hallucinations, and sensory distortions.
Hallucinogenic drugs are banned as Schedule I controlled substances. This means they have been found to possess no medical value and have a high potential for abuse. This was defined in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. However, since 1970 a lot has changed in the research laboratories.
Research now indicates that psychedelic drugs could possess some value for people that suffer from manic depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This followed some that argued the 1970’s restrictions were a hasty move in lieu of the 1960’d rebellious drug culture.
Psychedelic drugs include LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote, and mescaline. Neuroscientists began a study to see exactly how much recreational psychedelic drug use has been going on even with the restrictions. Their research was fine-tuned and complex.
One discovery included that these psychedelics act predominantly on the serotonin 2A receptor in the brain. This would mean that the old school psychedelics are different from the ones used today such as ecstasy and ketamine, which affect a different region of the brain.
More than 30 million Americans have experimented with psychedelic drugs during their lifetime. The study concluded that the numbers are similar when comparing young adults today to the baby boomers and psychedelic consumption. This concluded that psychedelic drugs are still used a lot.
Baby boomers and young adults reported psychedelic drug use just under 20 percent and men were more likely to partake than women. Age had no bearing on that. Baby boomers preferred mescaline and LSD whereas the younger crowd preferred magic mushrooms. The reason for this preference is the surplus of information on the cultivation of magic mushrooms, which increases availability.
Other studies have made a legitimate argument for hallucinogenic drugs being used for medication in some instances. In the past, drugs such as ibogaine have been used to treat opiate and nicotine addictions. Ayahuasca has been used to treat opiate and alcohol withdraw. Both are considered to be psychedelics. Follow up studies have indicated that nearly 60 percent of those who were treated with hallucinogenic drugs described large benefits and there were no reports of any harm.
Cheryl Hinneburg is the content writer for KLEAN Treatment Center, located in West Hollywood CA. She is also working on her MS in substance abuse counseling. Cheryl has a BBA from Baker College. Cheryl's specialty is in the field of drug addiction.