The government has authorized Dr. Cameron Lacey, a psychiatrist in New Zealand, to prescribe psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” for the treatment of depression.
Dr. Lacey, who has dedicated years to researching the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for mood disorders, recently became the first psychiatrist in New Zealand licensed to prescribe psilocybin. This approval from the country's health ministry marks a significant step in the increasing global interest in the use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin and MDMA, for conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse.
According to the health ministry, Dr. Lacey was selected due to his extensive experience with psilocybin in clinical trials. Notably, he began exploring psilocybin’s potential in 2021 after observing that many of his patients were unresponsive to traditional antidepressant treatments.
The government has implemented strict regulations regarding psilocybin treatments. Patients will not have access to the substance after a consultation, as psilocybin remains classified as an illicit drug in New Zealand, alongside more dangerous substances like heroin and cocaine.
Dr. Lacey explained that the treatment process begins with three sessions of talk therapy, after which patients will receive their first dose of psilocybin. During the treatment, patients will sit or lie down while wearing eye masks and noise-canceling headphones, receiving a 25-milligram dose of psilocybin in capsule form. The hallucinogenic effects typically start about 45 minutes later and can last for approximately eight hours.
“People can experience the whole kaleidoscope of emotions, which can be quite intense and challenging at times,” Dr. Lacey stated in a telephone interview. He noted that some patients may experience anxiety before their dose due to the expected intensity of the experience. In rare instances, patients may continue to experience hallucinations after the session has ended, which can lead to distress.
In follow-up therapy sessions, patients will discuss the emotions and memories they encountered during the psilocybin experience that may contribute to their depression. Dr. Lacey reported that during his trials, two-thirds of participants experienced a reduction in depressive symptoms, with the treatment program extending over 10 to 12 weeks.
Dr. Lacey’s research draws inspiration from Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, who have historically used certain mushrooms for introspection and healing in traditional rituals. This connection may influence future approvals for psilocybin therapy, potentially allowing health insurers to cover such treatments.
In 2023, Australia legalized the use of psilocybin and MDMA for treating depression and PTSD, further highlighting the shifting landscape regarding psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
In the United States, psilocybin is designated as a Schedule I substance, indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. However, various clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate its efficacy in treating addiction and depression.
Psilocybin's growing acceptance can be attributed to successful clinical trials like those conducted by Dr. Lacey, along with its comparatively lower risk of addiction or overdose compared to other hallucinogens like ketamine. However, Dr. Lacey’s 10-week psilocybin program comes at a high cost, ranging from $16,000 to $19,500. Despite this, he noted that other psychiatrists have reached out to him regarding treatment for their patients, many of whom had previously sought psilocybin therapy abroad.
New Zealand’s health system covers fully approved mental health treatments and medications, and Dr. Lacey emphasized the significant personal costs incurred by individuals suffering from depression and other conditions that do not fully improve.