John Oliver Talks About Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

John Oliver discusses Psychedelic Assisted Therapy on Last Week Tonight: https://youtu.be/a546lxxJIhE

This last Sunday, February 19, 2023 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’s the main topic was psychedelic-assisted therapy. The episode coveres the growing interest and research into the use of psychedelic drugs, such as MDMA and psilocybin, in clinical settings to treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

John Oliver explores the history of psychedelic drugs and their use in therapy, including the controversial role of Timothy Leary in the 1960s. He also discusses recent developments in research, including the FDA’s designation of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD as a “breakthrough therapy” and the ongoing clinical trials exploring the use of psilocybin for depression.

The episode highlights the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, such as the ability to access deeply-held emotions and experiences that can be difficult to access through traditional talk therapy. It also acknowledges the potential risks and challenges of using these drugs in a clinical setting, including the need for trained therapists and strict protocols to ensure safety and effectiveness.

The show emphasizes the need for further research and funding to better understand the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy and to develop safe and effective protocols for clinical use. It also covers the legal and regulatory barriers that currently limit access to these therapies for patients who could benefit from them.

Overall, the episode provides a quick overview of the current state of psychedelic-assisted therapy, including its history, research, potential benefits, and challenges. It is a good watch to quickly catch up with the current trends as well as history of the psychedelic renaissance.