La EUDA publica respuestas a las preguntas más frecuentes sobre el uso terapéutico de sustancias psicodélicas
La agencia discute los patrones de uso, las prácticas no autorizadas y los avances en la investigación clínica. Más información, en inglés, está disponible abajo.
Recent years have seen a growing public and clinical interest in the potential therapeutic use of a number of psychedelic substances, including some novel and little-known substances. A number of jurisdictions outside the EU have begun regulating the use of psychedelics for medical and therapeutic purposes, while significant commercial interest has arisen in this area, evidenced through the appearance of so-called ‘psychedelic retreats’ in a number of countries. An increasing number of clinical studies are exploring the potential of a range of psychedelic substances for different mental health conditions. Some research appears promising; however, generalising in this area is difficult, partly because of the large number of substances under review and partly because of the wide range of conditions that are being studied. Taken together, these developments have given rise to questions at the policy level relating to the risks associated with the increase in experimental use of these substances, their potential to cause harm, and appropriate policy responses.
In Europe, there are now indications of changes in patterns of use of psychedelics, including an increase in unregulated and/or illegal practices in which these substances are used as part of a wellness, therapeutic or spiritually oriented intervention (EMCDDA, 2023). Some of these psychedelic-related practices and interventions appear to market their services by referencing the latest developments in medical research, either directly in relation to the substances or indirectly by providing links to research and scientific papers.
Due to the limited information that currently exists in this area, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA, former EMCDDA) has launched a project to increase our understanding of key developments and respond to concerns raised by policymakers. These FAQs aim to respond to some of the key questions raised and provide a better understanding of ongoing developments in this field. While the focus of these FAQs is on the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances, additional questions have been added to provide important contextual information on related developments in this area, such as the prevalence and patterns of use of psychedelic substances in Europe, the presence of unlicensed and illegal psychedelic practices, and developments in clinical research.