By Yvonne Paquette, RSW, MSW (cand)
Ever wondered what sort of psychedelic clinical trials are going on in your own country, or across the world? There’s a website for that. ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies being conducted around the world.
Since psilocybin is one of my favourite molecules of interest right now, I did a quick search on psilocybin studies. There are 74 studies happening right now! Some are currently accepting participants. Topics of study in relation to psilocybin include, but are not limited to: functional brain mapping; substance misuse treatment; Parkinson’s disease; depression, anxiety, PTSD; existential distress in palliative care; anorexia nervosa; Alzeimer’s disease; body dysmorphia; OCD, and more!
Here’s a screen shot of the mapped out version of the studies:
Taken from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/map?term=psilocybin&map=
It is worth noting that the majority of studies are taking place in countries considered to be part of ‘the global north.’ Many countries providing the source of various medicinal plants are considered to be part of ‘the global south,’ and are often engaged in struggles to ensure that their resources and products are being harvested and sold in ways that are ethical towards the people directly affected by the harvesting, and sustainable as a long term practice. These same concerns apply to the places and communities where medicinal plants are harvested for study and use by other countries.
Here are some links to materials that informed this post:
Environmental Justice Is a Social Justice Issue: Incorporating Environmental Justice Into Social Work Practice Curricula, Journal of Social Work Education
Psychedelic Businesses Can Be Leaders in Sustainability, Green Entrepreneur
How Sustainable Is The Ever More Popular Use Of Ayahuasca?, Samadhi Today