Canada approving psychedelics for therapy is a positive step, experts say
Global News
Health Canada will now allow physicians to request restricted psychedelic drugs for patients as part of their psychotherapy through its Special Access Program.
A doctor and a psychologist say Health Canada’s move to allow physicians to request restricted psychedelic drugs for patients as part of their psychotherapy is a positive step toward transforming mental-health care.
But they say the recent change to the Special Access Program isn’t enough.
“We still have a huge amount of work to do because these medicines could really, really revolutionize the entire mental health-care field,” said Dr. Michael Verbora, who works as a medical director at the Field Trip Health therapy centre in Toronto.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of where the science is … but I do really, really believe that if people have a process to start their own healing, it can lead to a much better world for most people.”
Psychedelic assisted therapy involves ingesting consciousness-altering substances — including psilocybin, ketamine, LSD or MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy) — in a clinical setting as part of more traditional psychotherapy.
Health Canada has said requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis for a “serious or life-threatening condition” and where other conventional treatments have failed, are unsuitable for the patient or are not available in Canada.
Verbora said the change isn’t designed to have a wait list, because it’s meant for emergencies. Health Canada has said applications will be processed within two days, but it’s unclear when a decision would be made.
What it has done is streamline potential access to restricted drugs, Verbora said.