Penn Researchers: Can Psychedelic Drugs Help Patients?

We've all heard the same spiel: Drugs are bad. You shouldn't do drugs. If you do them, you're bad, because drugs are bad, mmmkay? But then along come those pesky, know-it-all scientists who barge in and claim that, well, maybe not all drugs are entirely bad! Ugh, science! Why you gotta be so contrary?

According to CBS, a team of Penn researchers is exploring the potential clinical uses psychedelic drugs with hallucinogenic effects to treat patients with a wide variety of conditions, including depression. Interestingly enough, the study comes on the heels of a Times article detailing the advantages of psychedelics for terminally ill patients, many of whom were able to come to terms with their impending deaths as a result of these controversial substances.

Though the Penn researchers note the advantages of hallucinogenics, the team is also very wary of the potential risks. Jonathan Moreno, a professor of Medical Ethics, notes that the drugs can be very dangerous if not used properly and under medical supervision, but adds that "it is time to open up the question of whether any of these hallucinogens can have some good medical purpose.” Far out!