TRIPPY

A look at how old drugs are finding a new role in easing mental suffering.

New York Times journalist Londoño’s first book involves his experiences with psychedelic drugs, which he first encountered as a relief from crushing suicidal depression. His early searches led him to several clinics in South America that offered plant-based psychedelics like ayahuasca, which had a long history of effective use among Indigenous tribes. The drug helped the author move past his mental problems, but as he investigated further, he found that many of the treatments seemed like dangerous quackery, and they all came with a hefty price tag. After his return to the U.S., Londoño continued to explore the use of psychedelics as therapy. Some of the people dispensing the drugs genuinely wanted to help trauma victims, especially veterans suffering from PTSD, but others were charlatans. His research led him to medical professionals who had gained official permission to use drugs like ecstasy and psilocybin on an experimental basis. Some results have proved positive, and brain scans indicate that psychedelics can help repair damaged neural connections. Londoño believes that eventually the regulatory authorities will legalize therapeutic psychedelics, but he recognizes the many possibilities for things to go wrong. “When administered by a steady, wise guide, in a safe setting, I have seen psychedelics transform lives, including my own,” he writes. However, he notes, “in the wrong hands, they can be as dangerous as a drunk surgeon with a trembling hand.” This is intriguing material, but Londoño often wanders away from his theme. Several chapters, such as those dealing with his family history, don’t connect strongly enough with the primary material. Nevertheless, the subject of psychedelics is engaging, especially for readers interested in emerging therapies.

Blending solid research and personal experience, the author points to a new frontier for trauma treatment.