While psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT are most commonly associated with recreational highs and headtrips, a groundswell of academic opinion suggests that the substances could be utilized to serve a raft of therapeutic benefits as well. In Australia, official trials of medicinal psychedelics are only just starting to get off the ground.

But a small community of experimental psychotherapists—along with self-medicating users—have been using acid and mushrooms to treat mental health conditions for years, with promising results. We speak to some of the people who are at the coalface of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in Australia—and hear their views on how mind-expanding drugs could be the next frontier in mental health treatment.

Please note that since this video was made, a medical trial using psilocybin for palliative care patients will be introduced in Melbourne, Australia. Read more: https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/439kqn/a-melbourne-hospital-will-trial-magic-mushroom-therapy-for-dying-patients

Watch more of our favorite drug documentaries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1-_CV-6C4Y&list=PLDbSvEZka6GGNyP5EhBT46iJqoQavhW4H

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