The psychedelic drug known on the street as Ecstasy or simply as “X” is a compound named MDMA (3,4-ethylenedioxymethamphetamine.) It is a synthetic (man-made), psychoactive drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Recent news reports have commented on some mental health professionals promoting the use of hallucinogenic substances and exploring their possible applications as a tools in treating serious psychiatric conditions like depression, bipolar and thought disorders.
Based nearly entirely on anecdotal accounts, small numbers of Psychiatrists and other psychotherapists actively promote the use of “X” as a treatment aid. All researchers understand that personal stories (“anecdotes”) are the weakest type of documented support for anything. This phenomenon is eerily reminiscent of the early investigations of other psychedelic substances, most notable LSD, as a possible medicine.
Because psychedelic substances, by definition, have certain mind and consciousness altering properties, they have been investigated for possible uses by both the psychiatric and military communities. The military’s primary interest has been their possible application as “truth” serums or “brain washing” tools. To psychiatry, the goals have been less ominous and have been focused on their possible utility in the treatment of mental illnesses including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress.
To date, neither the military nor the psychiatric communities have developed enough consistent evidence to support the legal and deliberate use of these drugs. Hallucinogens were studied, in some depth, by the U.S. Army from 1955 through 1972. The results of those investigations were that the effects of the substances were not adequately predictable so as to be useful for military and intelligence purposes. It remains an area that continues to attract intermittent attention, discussion and study but, as of now, in the treatment of major mental disorders. There is little studied support for the use of psychedelic substances.
None the less, recurring interest in the non-‘recreational’ use of these substances continues to come up from time to time. While it seems logical to infer that a drug with mind-altering properties may have medical application if used to alter a mind in a healthier way, the use of them is supported only by beliefs not by knowledge.
The evidence of LSD, Ecstasy, psilocybin, marijuana and other drugs with psychedelic properties being useful in the psychiatric treatment of those with serious mental disorders remains both scant and suspect.