TGA approves psilocybin & MDMA for use in treating Depression & PTSD
February 3, 2023 12:42 AM Subscribe
Therapeutic Goods Administration approves psilocybin & MDMA for use in treating Depression & PTSD. Australia's medical regulator has approved the use of psychedelics to treat some mental health conditions, making the country one of the first in the world to officially recognise MDMA and psilocybin as medicines.
fucking brilliant, god damn, congratulations, this needs to be everywhere STAT
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:27 AM on February 3, 2023
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:27 AM on February 3, 2023
This is really the key to making these substances safe, useful and regulated. None of this half assery like decriminalizing (though I am also in favor of decriminalization because fuck that). Treatment being covered under insurance, or the state health plan equivalent, is vital. I am admittedly not keen on the details of the AU medical system, but have heard yall have your shit together more or less? Finding someone to oversee treatment may be difficult-but-doable, but having that cost of treatment be approachable is almost vital.
Oregon's experiment with legalizing psilocybin treatment has been yielding some eye-watteringly large estimates for how much treatment will cost (anywhere from $3000-$8000 a treatment) that will functionally make it inaccessible for huge populations that it would benefit best. As the joke goes, drugs have always been legal for rich people. Having it be state sanctioned, regulated, and integrated into the health system is important.
posted by furnace.heart at 6:49 AM on February 3, 2023 [8 favorites]
Oregon's experiment with legalizing psilocybin treatment has been yielding some eye-watteringly large estimates for how much treatment will cost (anywhere from $3000-$8000 a treatment) that will functionally make it inaccessible for huge populations that it would benefit best. As the joke goes, drugs have always been legal for rich people. Having it be state sanctioned, regulated, and integrated into the health system is important.
posted by furnace.heart at 6:49 AM on February 3, 2023 [8 favorites]
Author C L Polk is seeking this treatment in BC, Canada where it is trialing, and it's like $9k to start, which means they have a crowdfunding campaign. A friend who works for Loblaws says there's a VP who is also in a trial in Ontario (on her own dime as well, but Loblaws VP so [rubs fingers together insultingly]). So there's some hope for Canada, but efficacy will have to be pretty solid to convince the asshole provinces that it's worth the dosh.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Psilocybin is being explored for concussions
posted by jeffburdges at 6:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffburdges at 6:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I first read that as the TSA and was briefly very curious about my upcoming air travel.
posted by heyitsgogi at 7:21 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by heyitsgogi at 7:21 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
One step closer to one of my all time favorite ask me responses.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:12 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:12 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
$9k for this is hilarious in Canada since I can buy mushrooms for pretty cheap and it's MICRODOSING usually. It gives me nausea, but I'm trying them in various ways to get over that. The price is going to make me laugh all day like growing mushrooms is suuuuuuper hard and expensive.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:30 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:30 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
now do LSD.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:59 AM on February 3, 2023
posted by j_curiouser at 9:59 AM on February 3, 2023
The price is going to make me laugh all day like growing mushrooms is suuuuuuper hard and expensive.
It's mostly the cost of labor and facilities. The training in Oregon currently costs like $8k, and has an enrollment population of almost entirely medical or mental health therapist professionals; they're not going to charge below their regular hourly rate for this, and treatment lasts 6+ hours. Two practitioners are required to be present. Renewing the provider license costs a couple grand. There are no provisions for micordosing written yet, because it is supposed to be 'supervised' at all times. Stacking labor on anything makes it expensive, but there's no provisions for doing this in a volunteer capacity or anything. The rules they're writing here are garrrrrrbage.
I agree humans should be paid a living wage to do shit, but by comparison, ketamine treatment, which isn't quite as long, but has many of the same requirements, is covered by many insurances in the US (as long as it is Esketamine) and while billed at that insane rate, the patient doesn't see that much of the bill. I had it done (unsuccessfully, buh), and it ended up only being $15 copays for each visit.
It makes sense to do this on a federal level, not a state level. It sounds like AU at least is going in the right direction with it? Canada has been making good progress too. You fancy lads with your socialized medical systems!
posted by furnace.heart at 10:09 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's mostly the cost of labor and facilities. The training in Oregon currently costs like $8k, and has an enrollment population of almost entirely medical or mental health therapist professionals; they're not going to charge below their regular hourly rate for this, and treatment lasts 6+ hours. Two practitioners are required to be present. Renewing the provider license costs a couple grand. There are no provisions for micordosing written yet, because it is supposed to be 'supervised' at all times. Stacking labor on anything makes it expensive, but there's no provisions for doing this in a volunteer capacity or anything. The rules they're writing here are garrrrrrbage.
I agree humans should be paid a living wage to do shit, but by comparison, ketamine treatment, which isn't quite as long, but has many of the same requirements, is covered by many insurances in the US (as long as it is Esketamine) and while billed at that insane rate, the patient doesn't see that much of the bill. I had it done (unsuccessfully, buh), and it ended up only being $15 copays for each visit.
It makes sense to do this on a federal level, not a state level. It sounds like AU at least is going in the right direction with it? Canada has been making good progress too. You fancy lads with your socialized medical systems!
posted by furnace.heart at 10:09 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
You can buy this online they’ll ship anywhere in Canada. And these aren’t the only ones just google around.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:37 PM on February 3, 2023
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:37 PM on February 3, 2023
And hummingbird church is only $900 but you need to be selected. That’s ayahausca though.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:39 PM on February 3, 2023
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:39 PM on February 3, 2023
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posted by Athanassiel at 4:10 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]