Magic mushrooms contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin Cannabis_Pic/Alamy
Psychedelic drugs have promise for treating several mental health problems, but people shouldn’t self-medicate with them because they can sometimes trigger a lasting psychotic breakdown, said Jonathan Iliff at University College London, speaking at New Scientist Live on 7 October.
Drugs such as psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, are being investigated for treating a range of conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anorexia, under medical supervision.
The drugs have shown promising results in some trials, but are still classed as experimental in most countries as larger…
