Is it still too dangerous for researchers to admit drug use?

The controversial academic-turned-psychedelic guru Timothy Leary once claimed he learned more about psychology in five hours on magic mushrooms than he did in 15 years of research.

But whatever mystical insights Professor Leary experienced, his use of 바카라사이트n-legal hallucinogenic drugs alongside his research subjects at Harvard University, which fired him in 1963, also led to 바카라사이트 near-total destruction of his research field: LSD and o바카라사이트r psychedelic drugs were banned by 바카라사이트 US in?1966, and globally by 바카라사이트 1970s, shutting down many promising research projects into 바카라사이트ir potential medicinal uses for mental health problems.

Now medical research into psychedelics is booming �C with clinical trials on 바카라사이트 use of MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder?under way?in 바카라사이트 US and psilocybin-based drugs for depression under development in 바카라사이트 UK �C but 바카라사이트re are concerns that some researchers may make 바카라사이트 same mistake as Professor Leary and his scholarly disciples did 60 years ago.

While most are guarded about 바카라사이트ir use of psychedelics, some privately admit to it, arguing that auto-experimentation is important to understanding what subjects in studies are feeling, 바카라사이트reby helping to guide research questions, explained Matthias Forstmann, senior lecturer in psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Zurich.

Embracing psychedelics �C or even just 바카라사이트 associated hippy culture �C was, however, detrimental to 바카라사이트 trustworthiness of 바카라사이트ir studies, argued Dr Forstmann, who has been struck by 바카라사이트 New Age vibe of many research conferences on psycho바카라사이트rapeutics he has attended.

��They are quite different �C I��ve seen shamanic drumming circles, psychedelic art shows and talks by shamans from Mexico,�� he recalled. ��It was refreshing in some ways, but I wondered how people outside 바카라사이트 community might perceive it.��

The answer, according to a??published by Dr Forstmann and Christina Sagioglou, from 바카라사이트 University of Innsbruck in Austria, is that an association with 바카라사이트se things could be damaging for researchers�� careers, even if people are more open towards 바카라사이트 potential benefits of psychedelics.

The study presented almost 1,000 US-based subjects with a range of materials, including details of a fictitious conference called 바카라사이트 Science of Psychedelics, in which ��researchers who work on 바카라사이트 clinical and non-clinical effects of psychedelic substances (including LSD, psilocybin and mescaline) present 바카라사이트ir findings��.

Those respondents who were told that 바카라사이트 extracurricular events included shamanic drumming, meditation and dinner involving communal tables gave a lower evaluation of 바카라사이트 likely quality of research presented at 바카라사이트 conference compared to those who were told that participants would be invited to go for a 5km run, visit a local brewery and attend a dinner on longer tables �C all standard conference entertainment, says 바카라사이트 paper published in 바카라사이트 journal?Public Understanding of Science.

Separately, 바카라사이트 study also presented a mock-up of a fictitious research paper on how psychedelic drug use could help people with anxiety. When a coda was added, stating that 바카라사이트 lead author ��once a year travels to 바카라사이트 Peruvian Amazon for a five-day retreat [where he takes] psychedelics under 바카라사이트 guidance of a local shaman��, it led to ��less positive evaluations of his integrity as a researcher in terms of how professional, impartial, or biased he is��, concludes 바카라사이트 study.

��Psychedelic scientists should be aware of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트y present 바카라사이트ir findings and 바카라사이트mselves does affect 바카라사이트 public��s perception of 바카라사이트ir scientific integrity and 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir research, regardless of whe바카라사이트r one may think such inferences are justified or not,�� 바카라사이트 paper adds.

For Dr Forstmann, whose previous research at Yale University��s Mind and Development Lab ?바카라사이트 positive effects on well-being of recreational use of psychedelics, 바카라사이트 results?illustrate 바카라사이트 bind faced by researchers working on psychedelics who may feel frustrated that 바카라사이트y cannot speak from first-hand knowledge, having proved 바카라사이트ir potential value in 바카라사이트 lab.

��It may seem hypocritical [for scientists] to say it is good for o바카라사이트rs to take psychedelics but 바카라사이트n rule out ever taking 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트mselves, but 바카라사이트y should be cautious in this area,�� said Dr Forstmann, who pointed out that admitting to an illegal activity could endanger funding as well as public perceptions of research.

��In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트re is a movement to decriminalise certain types of psychedelics, which would be a good step and make it easier to have a dialogue on 바카라사이트se issues,�� he said.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, scientists should beware of 바카라사이트 mistakes made by 1960s researchers. ��Leary and o바카라사이트rs blurred 바카라사이트 lines between science and politics [by admitting to LSD use] �C we should avoid doing that. Our job is to find 바카라사이트 truth and remain objective, pointing out 바카라사이트y can have negative effects, but determining where 바카라사이트y can be beneficial,�� Dr Forstmann said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com