DRUG POLICY

A Call for Conscious Change

MATTHEW WALKERDON

Around the world, people from all walks of life are, at this very moment, preparing to undergo a transformative experience, one that (arguably in some cases) will rank alongside the birth of their children as one of their lives’ most meaningful — an experience so profound that they will leave it changed for the better. Imbued with more empathy and a heightened sense of connection to their fellow people, and the natural world, it will fortify them against depression and anxiety, whilst decreasing their narcissistic tendencies. It will also spark neurogenesis, increasing the strength and number of their neural connections like a cerebral Wi-Fi upgrade. However, as I write these words, pursuing this experience in Australia could leave you branded a criminal.

The transformative experiences I am referring to are those reliably produced by consuming psychedelics, a varied class of compounds that create consciousness-altering effects capable of reshaping perception, affect, and cognition in profound ways. The roots of psychedelic use span the globe, from the peyote cacti of meso-America to the iboga plants of Africa, to the ayahuasca brew of the Amazon, to magic mushrooms that seem to populate the entire planet. Furthermore, their use is thought to be intricately woven throughout the tapestry of human history stretching from the ancient Greeks and Egyptians as far back as 5.3 million years to our Pliocenian ancestors. In present-day Australia however, most psychedelics are considered ‘schedule 9’ drugs, a classification that is marked by high risks of harm, abuse, and addiction.

It was only as recently as February 2023 that Australia made the landmark decision to reschedule Psilocybin and MDMA from schedule 9 to schedule 8, a category that recognises some limited medical applications under highly controlled circumstances. This development came on the back of promising research relating to their therapeutic efficacy in treating PTSD, and treatment-resistant depression. Whilst this is a welcome development and one that will offer hope to millions of Australians every year, it is also an opportunity to examine these substances more closely.

The notion that psychedelics pose a high risk of harm stretches credulity upon examination of the evidence. Dr Matthew Johnson spearheaded pioneering research that investigated the risk posed to oneself and others by a range of drugs, both legal and illegal. As can be seen in Figure 1, the risk of harm to others from both magic mushrooms and LSD is virtually zero, while the risk of harm to oneself is not much higher. When comparing LSD and mushrooms to other Schedule 9 drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and methamphetamine it would seem absurd to group them together based on their risk of harm. To say nothing of alcohol which sits at the top of the tree for both risks of harm to self and others, and rather than being restricted, represents a US$23 billion industry in Australia.

Similarly, when applying scrutiny to the notion that psychedelics carry a high risk of abuse and addiction, it is hard to conclude that this is anything other than an outright falsehood. Firstly, there is no evidence that psychedelics (particularly the natural-classical class of psychedelics) are drugs of addiction. Quite the opposite, research shows that they lack reinforcing properties, which in lay terms, means that after a psychedelic experience, the last thing most people want to do is jump right back in. In fact, due to their anti-addictive properties, many psychedelics are now showing promise as treatments for, rather than causes of addiction. None more so than Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychedelic with a long history of ceremonial use in Africa. It shows great promise as an antidote to the grip of addiction generated by substances such as heroin. Trials have shown that a single high-dose experience with Iboga results in a 75% remission rate for those suffering from heroin addiction. This dwarfs our current best practice options for both speed and efficacy. So, what is behind this harsh classification applied seemingly carte blanche to psychedelic substances?

Debate continues as to whether the wave of psychedelic prohibition that swept the Western world in the 1970s was the result of a moral panic orchestrated by the Nixon administration or a shift towards neo-puritan cultural norms. As is usually the case, the truth of the matter is probably more nuanced. However, Australia was caught up in this wave and sought to prioritise safety above all else. This risk aversion seems reminiscent of the decision of many Americans to eschew air travel in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11. After witnessing such a disaster, who can blame them? However, this well- founded desire for safety resulted in an additional 2,300 people dead, and many more severely injured in road accidents — a direct result of their seemingly logical risk-reward calculation. In Australia, we have decided to prohibit the use of psychedelics from a similar standpoint. Out of fear of the potential for harm, we have opted to restrict people’s autonomy over their own consciousness.

Over the past 40 years, more than 150,000 lives have been lost to suicide in Australia. A common contributing factor is an inability to find meaning in one’s own life. The saying ‘I’ve got nothing left to live for’ is one that too many can relate to. Often, a glimmer of hope that there is something important worth living for is what gives those among us who have considered suicide the strength to go on. The potential for psychedelics to provide that meaning was made clear in a 2018 study spearheaded by Dr Roland Griffiths. Following a single high-dose psychedelic experience 84% of people described it as amongst the top five most meaningful experiences of their lifetime; 36% gave it the number one spot!

While I won’t claim that all those lost to suicide could have been saved, we do need to ask the question; how many of these desperate souls could have been pulled from the edge of the abyss by a ticket to the most profound journey of their lives?

And what of those staring down death without the benefit of choice? Tens of thousands of Australians are made aware of the finitude of their own existence with terminal diagnoses each year. The existential anguish that accompanies such a diagnosis can rob them of the ability to find joy and peace in their final days. Whilst the goal of extending the lives of those with a terminal diagnosis is an undeniable priority, the question must be asked as to how we can best alleviate their mental anguish and maximise the peace and joy of their final days. Once again, psychedelics can play a profoundly positive role here with studies showing their capacity to reduce the anxiety, depression, and demoralisation that often accompany a terminal diagnosis. For those in this group, it is hard to conceive of an argument that restricting them from access to psychedelics grants them any additional safety given their impending fate. Under what premise is it ethically permissible to restrict those staring down their own mortality from the right to find peace and comfort in their dying days?

When asking how the society of tomorrow can be fairer and more equitable for the next generation, it is incumbent on us to examine the basis of those decisions made by our predecessors. We must ask ourselves whether we are blinded by the dogma of the status quo. Whether those decisions, intended to protect people, still hold up to the scrutiny of modern sensibilities and the ever-expanding march of empirical knowledge. The prohibition of psychedelic compounds is one such decision, made long ago, that is crying out for scrutiny. Given more recent challenges in the empirical literature, let us not dismiss psychedelics as simply an artefact of a thrill-seeking counterculture. It is our responsibility to lift the shroud of prohibition that has concealed the potential of these compounds for far too long. It is time to recognize the profound, life-altering benefits of psychedelics and to grant people the autonomy they deserve over their own consciousness. By doing so, we embrace a future where personal growth, empathy, and understanding flourish, and lives once lost to despair may be saved by the profound meaning and hope that psychedelics can provide.

Matthew Walkerdon is an expert in psychology, marketing and financial services. His master’s thesis explored the human experience of religious awe across the full range of classical and non-classical or synthetic substances. Before working in the research field of psychology, Matthew founded and managed organisations serving SMEs focused on sales, leasing and financial services.