Technical meeting on the medical use of psychedelic substances: opportunities and concerns
This technical expert meeting was convened as rapid developments in the medical use of psychedelic substances, including a rise in clinical trials and regulation in some jurisdictions, have generated considerable interest within Europe and globally. In conjunction, a spread of psychedelic “retreats” has been observed. These appear to be unlicensed or illegal facilities, which purport to offer evidence-based treatment and/or wellness therapies. Health claims also appear to be influencing changes in consumption habits, for example related to “microdosing”. Taken together, these fast-paced developments have raised concerns at the policy level with regard to impacts on patterns of use and potential harms, and the legal status of these substances. In order to explore this further, this technical meeting was held under the auspices of an EMCDDA project that aims to increase our understanding of ongoing developments.
The meeting was convened at the EMCDDA in Lisbon, Portugal, between 27-28 February 2023. It brought together 20 experts from 17 different European organisations and academic institutions. This multidisciplinary exchange greatly contributed to a better understanding of key developments across policy, research and practice.
The technical meeting had four objectives:
- Improve understanding of the multifaceted issues surrounding the medical use of psychedelic drugs, focusing on Europe
- Exchange information on current developments in research and policy
- Identify and explore some of the challenges faced by policymakers in relation to these developments
- Identify implications for monitoring and reporting in the future