Amanita or fly agaric is a psychotropic mushroom found widely in Canada.
Nearly 4 out of 5 Canadians believe that the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is an acceptable medical approach to treat existential distress in patients suffering from a serious and incurable disease, according to a research team led by Michel Dorval, professor at Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy and researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center. The survey results have been published in the journal Palliative Medicine.
The survey aimed to measure the social acceptability of using psilocybin in healthcare. Professor Dorval highlights that studies have shown psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, can provide a range of benefits for patients with advanced cancer, such as rapid and lasting anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, as well as profound existential awareness. Treatment with psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, can bring relief for up to six months.
Hunt for mushrooms with an expert. Only eat if you can ID them in a book and if your mushroom expert is certain they are safe.
Canadian law currently prohibits the production, sale, or possession of psilocybin. However, a special access program implemented since January 2022 allows for obtaining an exemption from Health Canada for medical or scientific reasons, with a doctor able to apply on behalf of a patient if previous treatments have failed or the patient’s condition requires urgent intervention.
a basket of mushrooms collected in Ontario, Canada
An analysis of the survey responses reveals that 79% of Canadians believe psilocybin-assisted therapy is a reasonable medical choice for treating existential distress in patients at the end of life. Support for psilocybin is especially high among those who have been exposed to palliative care, as well as those who have previous experience with psilocybin itself. These findings suggest a high level of social acceptability for this form of intervention in Canada.
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