logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
27m 30s

Psychedelics

Bbc World Service
About this episode

James Gallagher reports on a psychedelic renaissance; a new wave of research testing hallucinogenic drugs like magic mushrooms to treat mental health conditions.

There’s genuine excitement and some early encouraging evidence. A manufacturer tells James that in five years’ time, it’s possible that psychedelics could be part of the medicine cabinet – but with the hype, there’s risk too and there’s much still to learn about who these drugs could help and how.

Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald

Image: Fungi on purple background. Credit: Getty Images.

Up next
Jun 22
The friendly virus
Our antibiotics are failing us. In 2025, the UK Government said antibiotic resistance (AMR) contributes to more than 35,000 deaths each year in the UK. Emergency doctors say they are losing patients on a regular basis when they run out of ways to treat them. Antibiotics have save ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 15
The Life Scientific: Dean Lomax
Have you ever been told you aren't good enough to do something, then gone ahead and proved the naysayers wrong by doing it anyway - in glorious, headline-grabbing style? That is the satisfying story of Dr Dean Lomax. Dean grew up in Doncaster with a passion for fossils but after ... Show More
26m 29s
Jun 8
The Life Scientific: Helen Hastie
What if robots of the future weren’t just clever machines, performing tasks in isolation, but trusted teammates you could have a chat with? That could respond naturally to conversational cues and even explain their work? Making this relationship a reality is a focus for Helen Has ... Show More
26m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
Psychedelics for depression
Can magic mushrooms help your mental health? James Gallagher cuts through the hype and examines the evidence to find out if psychedelics can treat depression. Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald 
38m 28s
Oct 2024
Are psychedelics breaking science?
Drugs like ecstasy and mushrooms have shown promise as mental health treatments, but they’re also exposing some major cracks in how scientists study the brain. Guests: Jonathan Lambert, science journalist; Boris Heifets, professor at Stanford University of Medicine; Amy Mcguire, ... Show More
24m 40s
Jun 2023
147 - Psilocybin - The Magic Mushroom Drug
<p dir="ltr">On today’s episode: Soon you might be able get your blood pressure by pinching your smartphone. Psilocybin and other psychedelics might be a major advancement in treating some mental illnesses. All that and more today on All Around Science...</p> LINKS: <p></p> <p></ ... Show More
1h 4m
Feb 2018
Can Magic Mushrooms Help Stop Depression?
<p>Although psychadelic drugs are largely recreational these days, scientists are looking into potential therapeutic uses -- especially in patients for whom nothing else works. Learn how psilocybin may fight depression in this episode of BrainStuff.</p><p> </p> Learn more about y ... Show More
3m 46s
Jul 2021
Psychedelics
LSD and psilocybin aka magic mushrooms are gaining in popularity for the therapeutic benefits, especially using the technique of microdosing. I spoke with E.S. Fein from the lucid dreaming episode about the benefits of psychedelics.Disclaimer: this episode discusses the use of su ... Show More
35m 9s
Nov 2022
What Promise Do Psychedelics Hold As Therapeutics?
When psychedelics were first studied more than 50 years ago, researchers noticed that they were useful in helping people explore a greater sense of self. Now, after a half-century hiatus, scientists are studying psychedelics like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine as treatment for de ... Show More
33m 13s