Australians Can Now Access MDMA & Psilocybin Prescriptions

Australia will become the first country to allow the medical use of MDMA and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to treat specific mental illnesses, following an announcement from Australia’s medicine and therapeutics authority. The news comes after a green light from the Therapeutic Goods Administration reviewed research that showed the success of such treatments and from July this year prescriptions for the drugs will become available.

If you’re thinking this might be an avenue to enjoy a large weekend on the town, think again, as the drugs will only be available to those already undergoing treatment for mental illnesses and where standard psychiatric drugs have been found ineffective. There remain some questions over the specific safeguards that will be in place around this newly approved treatment method, but are understood to include approval from a human research ethics committee which will only be given to psychiatrists that demonstrate evidence-based treatment protocols and appropriate patient selection.

In a comment to The Guardian, associate professor and president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Vinay Lakra, has said, “this is a baby step in the right direction and what it does is allow us to do things in an appropriately safe way for everyone … and if necessary take a step back as well.”