PsychedeLinks – September 1, 2023

The DEA has a few new suggestions for activities that teens should turn to as an alternative for drugs. In a post on its teen-focused “Just Think Twice” site, the DEA “[explores] 7 activities to get a natural high that doesn’t involve drugs.” Many of the activities are tried and true suggestions, such as hiking and playing sports. Singing lessons also make an appearance, and reasonably so, as there is no disputing the fun of a good karaoke night. Some of the new suggestions, though, are a bit more controversial, namely the DEA recommendation that a healthy alternative for young people is to 1) play video games (for a “little escape from reality”) or 2) increase their social media presence.

These suggestions come as a particular surprise in view of ongoing debates over the addictive effects of gaming, as well as ever-increasing scrutiny of the role social media plays on the mental health of teens. In July 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) added a new form of addiction called “gaming disorder” to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This diagnosis was described in 2022 as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA’s) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and earmarked for further study. In terms of the suggestion that young people increase their social media engagement, the DEA appears to be at odds with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who warned in May of this year that “widespread social media use among kids and teens poses a significant mental health risk that needs to be addressed immediately.” Emerge attorney, Kaci Hohmann, is concerned about the narrative the DEA is pushing. “All this post confirms for me is that the DEA – as per usual – has little care or consideration for the best interests of the US population. While I agree with the desire to encourage children to explore ‘natural highs’, I greatly take issue with the DEA advocating for activities that are known to negatively affect mental health. The DEA missed an opportunity to provide sound advice that aligns with legitimate science and research which comes as no surprise but is disappointing, nevertheless.”

“Omnia Group Ashland, a legal and licensed psilocybin service center, is set to open in mid-September 2023 and introduce mental health services to the community of Ashland, Oregon. With an advisory board of five local experts in the field of psilocybin facilitation, the center says that its programs go far beyond the minimum standards set by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The center is to offer 1:1, group sessions, and micro-dosing paired with a variety of wellness-centered offerings such as yoga or art therapy.”

“For clinicians, serving clients seeking these therapies demands specialized training, ethical considerations and a commitment to evidence-based practice. The appeal [of these therapies] lies in their potential to offer fresh perspectives, transformational experiences and unique avenues for healing. In this article, [Rolling Stone] delve[s] into the reasons behind the growing popularity of these therapies and explore what it takes for clinicians to effectively serve clients who are seeking cannabis or psychedelics as a mental health treatment. Key points of attraction towards psychedelic therapies examined are: 1) the prolonged nature of traditional therapies, 2) ‘desire for novel approaches,’ 3) ‘holistic mind, spirit, and body healing,’ and 4) ‘shift[s] in perception due to legal changes.’ Key challenges discussed are: 1) the need for in-depth training, 2) ‘holistic protocols,’ 3) ‘ethical considerations,’ 4) ‘legal and regulatory knowledge,’ 5) ‘informed and effective marketing,’ and 6) ‘collaboration and integration.’ Recommended adaptations to clinician practices are: 1) ‘continued education,’ 2) ‘flexible mindset,’ 3) ‘competent care,’ and 4) ‘evidence-based practice.’”

“In May, EPIC Healing Eugene became the first licensed service center in Oregon and began seeing clients in June. Satya Therapeutics in Ashland is another licensed service center and also has a license to manufacture psilocybin to its clients whom it started seeing in July. We hear from Cathy Jonas, the owner of EPIC Healing Eugene, and Andreas Met, the co-founder and CEO of Satya Therapeutics, about their client experiences so far operating in the uncharted business of offering psychedelics as a service. ”