The “heroic dose” of psychedelics, according to Johns Hopkins | Dr. Matthew Johnson
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How a ‘heroic dose’ of psychedelics can be therapeutic, explained by a Johns Hopkins professor.
Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg?sub_confirmation=1
Up next, Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
► https://youtu.be/5T0LmbWROKY
Psychedelic research is enjoying a renaissance. Recent studies have shown that psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin seem to be a safe and effective method for treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
And unlike common antidepressants, some people report long-lasting improvements in their mental health conditions after taking just one dose of psychedelics.
What makes these substances so unique and powerful? That’s one of the driving questions behind the research of Matthew W. Johnson, who has conducted numerous studies on the nature of addiction, psychedelics, and other psychoactive substances.
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/psychedelics-heroic-dose/
0:00 Effing up the ineffable
1:56 Pioneers of psychedelic therapy
2:35 Psychedelics go underground
3:26 The psychedelic renaissance
4:50 Taking a ‘heroic dose’ at Johns Hopkins
8:44 The challenges of psychedelic therapy
9:46 The mental health revolution
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About Matthew Johnson:
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is The Susan Hill Ward Endowed Professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins. Working with psychedelics since 2004, he is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. He has published research on psychedelics and mystical experience, personality change, tobacco smoking cessation, cancer distress treatment, and depression treatment. In 2021 he received as principal investigator the first grant in 50 years from the US government for a treatment study with a classic psychedelic, specifically psilocybin in treatment of tobacco addiction. He is also known for his expertise in behavioral economics, addiction, sexual risk behavior, and research with a wide variety of drug classes. He’s been Interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Fox News, Fox Business News, BBC and in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.
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Read more of our stories on psychedelics:
AI maps psychedelic “trip” experiences to regions of the brain – opening new route to psychiatric treatments
► https://bigthink.com/health/ai-maps-psychedelic-trip-in-brain/
Psychedelic drugs: how to tell good research from bad
► https://bigthink.com/health/psychedelic-drugs-research/
Metaphysics and mushrooms: Psychedelics can change how you think about the universe
► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/psychedelics-mushrooms-metaphysics/
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Become a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and more: https://bigthink.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=yt_desc
How a ‘heroic dose’ of psychedelics can be therapeutic, explained by a Johns Hopkins professor.
Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg?sub_confirmation=1
Up next, Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
► https://youtu.be/5T0LmbWROKY
Psychedelic research is enjoying a renaissance. Recent studies have shown that psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin seem to be a safe and effective method for treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
And unlike common antidepressants, some people report long-lasting improvements in their mental health conditions after taking just one dose of psychedelics.
What makes these substances so unique and powerful? That’s one of the driving questions behind the research of Matthew W. Johnson, who has conducted numerous studies on the nature of addiction, psychedelics, and other psychoactive substances.
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/psychedelics-heroic-dose/
0:00 Effing up the ineffable
1:56 Pioneers of psychedelic therapy
2:35 Psychedelics go underground
3:26 The psychedelic renaissance
4:50 Taking a ‘heroic dose’ at Johns Hopkins
8:44 The challenges of psychedelic therapy
9:46 The mental health revolution
———————————————————————————-
About Matthew Johnson:
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is The Susan Hill Ward Endowed Professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins. Working with psychedelics since 2004, he is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. He has published research on psychedelics and mystical experience, personality change, tobacco smoking cessation, cancer distress treatment, and depression treatment. In 2021 he received as principal investigator the first grant in 50 years from the US government for a treatment study with a classic psychedelic, specifically psilocybin in treatment of tobacco addiction. He is also known for his expertise in behavioral economics, addiction, sexual risk behavior, and research with a wide variety of drug classes. He’s been Interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Fox News, Fox Business News, BBC and in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.
———————————————————————————-
Read more of our stories on psychedelics:
AI maps psychedelic “trip” experiences to regions of the brain – opening new route to psychiatric treatments
► https://bigthink.com/health/ai-maps-psychedelic-trip-in-brain/
Psychedelic drugs: how to tell good research from bad
► https://bigthink.com/health/psychedelic-drugs-research/
Metaphysics and mushrooms: Psychedelics can change how you think about the universe
► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/psychedelics-mushrooms-metaphysics/
———————————————————————————-
About Big Think | Smarter Faster™
► Big Think
The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century.
► Big Think+
Make your business smarter, faster: https://bigthink.com/plus/
———————————————————————————-
Want more Big Think?
► Daily editorial features: https://bigthink.com/popular/
► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: https://bigthink.com/st/newsletter
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As a life long user of psychedelics I find this as the most accurate and truthful description of the experience.
The biggest opponent of legalizing substances like cannabis and psychedelics is big pharma. The amount of money they would lose would be catastrophic to their bottom line.
"Society" is more willing to look at psychs, because pharma decided they could make money from it, then had a chat with the politicians in their pockets and the stance suddenly softened
When you're on psilocybin or LSD, don't try to control it, its an excellent advice.
So has this presenter tried it himself?
Psychedelics Are Guidance Counselors—When Used Right
When applied responsibly, psychedelics function as guidance counselors. They help illuminate hidden patterns in the mind, guide personal growth, and provide insight in ways traditional therapy often can’t.
Clinical research now shows that in the right setting, with proper support and integration, psychedelics offer real guidance for healing and self-understanding. They’re not just substances—they’re tools for insight, but only when used right.
I think there are generational ideas that exist. Mushrooms can show us all of these perspectives from all our ancestors and friends like 10 fold
1:40 SYD BARRET!!!
So easy to grow fcuking love my shrooms so good for mental health although I took too much 1st time and hated it scared the site out of me
Shrooms are a gift to humanity from the Gods, nothing less.
I can part clouds move water and wind. The army is watching me closely. I'm not the only one doing it a man few miles away was seen doing the same thing. . 144000 awakened. Mushrooms helped me remember who I truly am Ka Ba Allah Bismillah. Janson Christopher Silverthorn Weaver chosen. July Sun's of Father rise into full power
as someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 8 put on all sorts of medication and growing up in the environment i did i’ve never tried anything that worked the way mushrooms did for me yeah they didn’t fix the problem or take my adhd away but now i understand it a whole hell of a lot better and i understand what I MYSELF ME the one with adhd needs and it’s helped me integrate living my life with adhd better and to become a more functional person so thankful for the insights mushrooms gave me it really just showed me how much power the brain has and how much control i have over myself the situations i put myself in who i converse with in my life and what sources i let be fed into my life now i now use them recreationally for my own spiritual journey im fascinated by this kind of research and i think done properly and in a controlled way mushrooms can be a very useful tool
The “heroic dose” was just the norm for us back in our times.some of the best experiences of my life.
30 plus years later, and we still talk about them. It’s something we will never forget. The enlightenment we achieved lead to a peace that was nearly unexplainable. A comfort beyond anything I have ever known.
I learned you have to start in a good place, a good state of mind. Then just let go and let it take over.
I try to do mushrooms once a month. Even if I have to micro dose, I have to face myself while I clean my apartment.
But the months I get an ounce, oh boy, I shake hands with Jesus and plan to rent an apartment with him LMAO!!!!
@bigthink Reality and created be perception and Perception is swayed by our reality . I think if you introduced the book “As A Thinking Man” before the extraduction of psychedelics might help the experience and open the patient’s eyes more to understanding the power they have controlling their reality .
100g philosophers stone fresh after ayahuasca
Does God exist? Duh!
first time was a 5g dose and man it git me, was laying crying in my girls lap for 2 hours
LOOK AT HIS EYES, thats the sign of drug/plants. Challenge: STAY SOBER. Clear your Mind, Clear your Soul Astral Body, Clear the Emotional Body, and Clear the Mental Body. Try SOBRIETY even from microdosing. Try Meditation, Massage Therapy, Energy Healing Work, Emotional Body Work, Talk Therapy, Watsu, Breathwork, Colonics, Karmic Healing, Depression healing without drugs or shrooms, Setting inner Intention once a month on the New Moon, and more holistic and ancient healing work each month. The more you invest in yourself the more you can DETOX any sickness. NOTHING IS FREE, plants are not the fix all, ,because jumping off a high cliff into water will do the SAME THING. Your own post 50 year old, will then thank you at that later time.
I did LSD at Woodstock. We sat next to some people from San Francisco and they sold us a tab of Owsley Purple Haze. It changed my life.