“He died very peacefully with a smile on his face”. When David Bluefield uttered these words, he did not have hallucinogens in mind. Every day, people are told that they have a terminal illness, and from that point on, they live the rest of their life fearing their death. In order for these people to die peacefully, something must change. What must change is the treatment they receive before their lives end. There is much controversy surrounding the use of hallucinogens, not only on the street, but in a medical setting as well. Even though there is such controversy, these drugs can help patients who are in need. Using hallucinogens will improve the quality of the last days of the lives of terminally ill patients because not a day goes by without one fearing death. Drugs such as hallucinogens have the ability to relieve the fear of death that is associated with terminal illnesses. The use of hallucinogens should be an accepted method of treatment for terminally ill patients, due to their ability to relieve anxiety, decrease depression, and help patients to prepare for death.
Hallucinogens, or any drug that causes hallucinations, have shown to be helpful in a medical setting, but many people say that hallucinogens should not be used to help terminally ill patients due to their risky side effects. The reason many people are against the use of hallucinogens is because they have strong prejudices against them, and these people are not willing to change their opinions. As stated in a video, the war on drugs has caused society to demonize the use of hallucinogens as a treatment for an otherwise untreatable problem. Neurologists have determined that the best treatment for this problem is hallucinogens, which unfortunately are illegal. How these drugs work is they expand the conscious mind which includes our emotions and self awareness, and that is where problems such as depression and anxiety stem. These mental disabilities have shown to be distortions of our self awareness which can best be treated by tapping into the conscious mind. A part of the brain called the cingulate cortex controls part of the conscious mind and when it becomes overactive it leads to anxiety and depression. The way to fix this is by loosening the cingulate cortex, which can be done through the use of hallucinogens (Martinez). Many believe that there are other ways, besides drugs, that can lead patients to gain similar effects. One way is meditation which has shown to allow people to “attain a transcendental state similar to that produced by psilocybin” (MacReady 2). Another reason why people do not support the use of hallucinogens is because there is the risk of having a bad trip, which Charles Grob MD defines as “a psychedelic-heightened anxiety attack” (Harvey 3). This could be detrimental to patients in a poor state of mind. It has been shown in studies that many people who use drugs have experienced bad trips, so people question why it would be different with patients. The causes of a bad trip include the mindset of the user as well as his or her setting, both of which are self-controlled. Since hallucinogen users have a large amount of the effect these drugs have on them, it cannot be said that they are at a higher risk for a bad trip (Harvey 4). When trialling the use of LSD among terminally ill patients, the patients were given a controlled amount of the drug and placed in a controlled setting with trained medical professionals that could assist them in calming down if something were to go wrong, which led to conclusive results among all patients (Harvey 5). The last thing doctors and family members want is the patient to become paranoid about dying, but a patient becoming paranoid can be prevented. There are always side effects no matter what drug a patient uses, and the previously listed are the risked side effects that come with using hallucinogens. If a patient believes they are at risk for having a bad trip, then they simply do not have to use the hallucinogens. Using them as a mean of therapy does not have to be mandatory, but it is a viable option that is going unnoticed. Many people in today’s society are not willing to open their minds to form new opinions about these drugs, which is why this crucial mean of treatment is going unused. Hallucinogens have risks just like any other form of medicine, but if society never gives them a try, we will never know experience the good they can do for terminally ill patients.
While some patients “felt conflict, and fear of suffering or dying” others felt a “kind of warmth or connectedness to the environment” (Rivas 2). Despite the risks that come with using hallucinogens, there are many benefits, one being that these drugs have the ability to relieve anxiety among terminally ill patients. In a study done in the 1960’s, a group of terminally ill volunteers were given a controlled amount of LSD. The patients who were presented with LSD experienced a 20% decline in their anxiety related symptoms that corresponded with their medical condition (Connor 1). These patients also did not experience any severe side effects, which is why it is possible for hallucinogens to be used with good intentions. This study reveals that these drugs have shown to do more good than harm. In a different study conducted by Eric Kast of Chicago Medical School, LSD was administered to terminally ill patients, and his outcomes were spectacular. After taking the LSD, the patients began to forget about their terminal illness which led them to be able to discuss their imminent death without the attached fear (Griffiths 3). The patients showed not only decreases in anxiety, but decreases in other unfavorable symptoms as well. From these results, it is evident that not only one study has shown that hallucinogens have the ability to relieve anxiety, but multiple. These drugs have proven to release anxiety much more often than not, which is why it is crucial that hallucinogens become an accepted method of treatment among terminally ill patients.
Not only can hallucinogens relieve anxiety among patients, but they are also able to decrease depression in those who know they are headed towards death. The founder of the Heffter Institute, Davis E. Nichols, says that there is indication that hallucinogens work on the serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a compound that can affect your mood, which is a factor of depression, and therefore hallucinogens have the same target as drugs like Prozac or Zoloft which have not seen the same results as hallucinogens (Eisner 1). Drugs such as Prozac are accepted in today’s society so prohibiting the use of hallucinogens is preposterous. Hallucinogens work with the same chemicals in the brain as many modern medicines but have shown to have a more positive effect which is why it is possible that hallucinogens may even work in a superior manner. In the study conducted in the 1960’s, all subjects tested “experienced a rapid clinical improvement” (MacReady 2) where the subjects whom had previously experienced depression, saw their symptoms decrease. With decreased depression, these patients began to become “more spiritual and experience more overall happiness” (MacReady 3). Patients become happier after using hallucinogens, which is only one reason they should be accepted in today’s medical setting. Patients who have been given a life sentence should not have to live the rest of their lives feeling depressed and by using hallucinogens, these patients can be helped to see the rest of their life through a new light and not suffer in their final days.
The use of hallucinogens by terminally ill patients has the ability to prepare them for their death. In a study conducted at UCLA, all but one patient came to terms will their terminally ill fate. They began to expand their minds. This is important because instead of fearing the deaths that they could not avoid, they came to peace with it and they were then able to live the rest of their lives in comfort instead of fear. At Johns Hopkins, investigators questioned the subjects of testing. In the questionnaire they discovered that participants had an overall increase in well-being, and “the sense that all is One, that [he] experienced the essence of the universe and the knowing that god asks nothing of us except to receive love. [he is] not alone. [he does] not fear death, [he is] more patient with [himself].” (Griffiths 3). This quote from a study subject highlights first hand what a patient using hallucinogens really feels. Patients have shown that they have come to terms with their fate and what is happening to them, which is the most important aspect of using hallucinogens as a medical treatment. After administering LSD to his patients, Dr. Gasser said that his patients not only felt immediate results, but the results lasted for up to twelve months from when the drug was given to them and they were able to spend their limited time doing things they enjoyed and enjoying the time with people that they loved (Connor 2). These patients also saw their emotions in a different light and those with anxiety felt as though they were able to overcome it not only then, but for the months that follow. Not only did they experience positive results but not a single patient experienced negative results. These patients received a follow-up that showed their anxiety levels had stayed down (Rivas 2). Hallucinogens have the power to help people overcome their fears of dying. It is important for people to live peacefully which is why these drugs could be a crucial aspect in medical terms.
Due to their ability to decrease depression and anxiety, as well as prepare terminally ill patients for their death, hallucinogens should be an accepted method of treatment among this group of persons. The use of hallucinogens in today’s society is very controversial as it does come with risks. People have become very prejudiced against using drugs, which is why it is difficult to implement laws allowing them. Although using hallucinogens with terminally ill patients has risks, it is important to remember that majority of legal drugs do as well. Studies have shown that hallucinogens are effectively able to help terminally ill persons by decreasing anxiety and depression as well as helping them to prepare and accept their deaths. Not only do hallucinogens have the ability to medically help patients by changing chemicals in the brain, but it also helps them to find their spirituality and live the rest of their lives with a purpose. For these reasons it is important that society realizes what they are missing as whole and come to their realizations that hallucinogens are a crucial aspect of medical care. It is important that people do not die in fear. By accepting the medical use of hallucinogens, terminally ill patients will finally be able to come to terms with their deaths and die peacefully, with a smile on their face. Eisner, Robin. "Can Hallucinogens Help the Mentally Ill?" ABC News. ABC News Network, 22 Mar. 2014. Web. 3 June 2015.
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Harvey, Matt. "The Dreaded 'Bad Trip' on LSD -- Researchers Are Starting to Understand What Causes Them." Alternet. Independent Media Institute, 11 Aug. 2014. Web. 3 June 2015.
MacReady, Norra. "JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst." Opening Doors of Perception: Psychedelic Drugs and End-of-Life Care. Journal of National Cancer Institute, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 3 June 2015.
Martinez, Vanessa. "Hallucinogens May Work Best For Treating Depression [VIDEO]." Medical Daily. IBT Media Inc, 13 June 2014. Web. 3 June 2015.
Rivas, Anthony. "A Long Strange Trip." Newsweek Global 162.14 (2014): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 3 June 2015.
Steve, Connor. "Could LSD take the depression out of terminal illness?." Independent (UK) 07 Mar. 2014: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 3 June 2015.