Famous psychiatrists and drug reformers are demanding UK ministers to reclassify the psychedelic component psilocybin so that researchers and medical professionals can explore its medicinal properties. People suffering from cluster headaches or otherwise Psilocybin is a Schedule One drug, present in magic mushrooms. These known as ‘suicide headaches’ that involve severe pain are making the same demand. They hold guns to their heads due to the attacks of this condition. Psilocybin can help reduce physical and mental pain and provide relief to the patients. the drug is restricted for use under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Researchers and psychiatrists want it to be put in Schedule Two Drugs so that more study and research could be done on that and can be used for the treatment of cluster headaches. A recent survey has shown impressive results regarding psilocybin. It showed that it can reduce the symptoms of depression. This compound is also being examined for its potential uses like treatment of anorexia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obesity, alcohol, tobacco, and cocaine addiction.
Three famous British psychiatrists have written to the health secretary, Sajid Javid, and Kit Malthouse, the crime and policing minister at the Home Office to rethink classifying psilocybin. Prof Simon Wessely has given suggestions to the government regarding mental health policy and gave an independent review, commissioned by Prime Minister Theresa May. Prof Karl Friston, Prof Simon Wessely, and Prof Allan Young have asked the ministers to commission Sir Chris Whitty, who is the chief medical officer of England to gather evidence regarding the harms and utility of psilocybin.
The rescheduling of psilocybin for experimental and medicinal purposes will be done based on the evidence. The bid to get psilocybin reclassified as a potential treatment for cluster headaches is supported by the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group, whose members include Tory MP Crispin Blunt. Even Boris Johnson has agreed to reschedule psilocybin and other psychedelic components to allow research and gathering of evidence. Debates are still going on about this topic but nothing has changed since 10 months ago.
A government spokesperson said that they sympathize with the people who are dealing with cluster headaches regularly. But medicines involving controlled drugs must be properly examined and go through a licensing process to ensure their safety and quality. No medicine extracted from psilocybin has been legalized or licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The government is working with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to consider the potential medicinal uses of psilocybin and barriers to it could be removed.
