This notice has been sent on behalf of Danny Wedding, editor of APA's online book and film review journal PsycCRITIQUES. APA developed a PsycCRITIQUES blog that makes it possible for interested psychologists around the world to read selected book and film reviews and comment on the issues raised in those reviews. We think this week's blog would interest members of Division 28.
(Blog post by Dr. Fred Heide)
Is Maryjane Really More Dangerous Than Meth?
Ben Sessa's new book The Psychedelic Renaissance: Reassessing the Role of Psychedelic Drugs in 21st Century Psychiatry and Society argues that psychedelics have the potential to promote psychological growth. He points out that a number of important cultural figures (including the Beatles, Apple founder Steve Jobs, and Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson) have touted their value. In a double-blind study, participants reported that psilocybin induced experiences that were among the five most meaningful in their lives (Griffiths, Richards, Johnson, McCann, & Jesse, 2008). In addition, new evidence indicates the lasting therapeutic utility of substances such as MDMA for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (Mithoefer et al., 2013). Nonetheless, most psychedelics (including marijuana) are classified in the United States as Schedule I drugs, meaning that they have no currently accepted medical use and greater abuse potential than cocaine or methamphetamine. Should psychedelics remain under Schedule I? Or is it time for the Drug Enforcement Administration to change their status?
References
Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Johnson, M. W., McCann, U. D., & Jesse, R. (2008). Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later. Journal of Psychopharmacology,22(6), 621-632. doi: 10.1177/0269881108094300
Mithoefer, M. C., Wagner, M. T., Mithoefer, A. T., Jerome, L., Martin, S. F., Yazar-Klosinski, B., . . . Doblin, R. (2013). Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: A prospective long-term follow-up study. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27(1), 28-39. doi:10.1177/0269881112456611
For the coming week, this blog posting is on the home page at http://psyccritiquesblog.apa.org/ (afterwards, it will be found in our Recent Posts list or our Archives).
At this site you can review the blog and make comments (click on the red comments button at the bottom of the probe).
We would welcome your comments to this blog posting, or any previous postings you may find of interest in our archives. You can also subscribe to all new blog posts via email and web-based news readers at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/PsycCRITIQUESBlog .
Danny Wedding, PhD, MPH
Editor, PsycCRITIQUES
Associate Dean for Management and International Programs
California School of Professional Psychology
San Francisco Campus
Alliant International University
One Beach Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94133-1221
Christine Pearce
Managing Editor, PsycCRITIQUES
Reviewer Guidelines and Forms available at
http://www.apa.org/pubs/databases/psyccritiques/reviewer-guidelines.aspx
Editorial Office mailing address:
Christoph Zepeda, Editorial Assistant, PsycCRITIQUES
California School of Professional Psychology
Alliant International University
One Beach St., Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94133-1221
Fax: 314-754-9913
Editorial office phone: (415) 955-2177
Phone for C. Pearce in Oregon: (541) 246-8690
Journal Email: cpearce@alliant.edu (if difficulty with this email, try psyccritiques@gmail.com)
Visit the PsycCRITIQUES Blog: http://psyccritiquesblog.apa.org/
and comment on or read featured reviews
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