ReMedPsy · Re-emerging Magic Molecules: The Medicalization of Psychedelics in the United States
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-08-01 → 2021-07-31
- EU contribution
- €261,209
- Participants
- 3
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Re-emerging Magic Molecules: The Medicalization of Psychedelics in the United States
ReMedPsy explored how U.S. scientists and other relevant actors of the current psychedelic revival seek to challenge the legal classification of psychedelics and try to harness their benefits for society. The project traced how the medicalization of psychedelics and other models for responsibly reintegrating these “magic” molecules legally into society are enabled and marshaled through specific actor configurations, fundraising activities, the production and dissemination of scientific and other forms of knowledge, sociopolitical visions, as well as broader socio-political and value-related changes. Since neither the molecules nor regulations have changed since the 1970s, transformations in the scientific, regulatory, and broader socio-political context are facilitating the psychedelic research and cultural revival. Using a qualitative research methodology and approaches from Science and Technology Studies (STS), the project focuses on three molecules that are at the center of contemporary psychedelic research in the U.S.: MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. The three main research objectives are: - Explore how U.S. actors in the re-emerging field of psychedelic research align and produce scientific and non-scientific knowledge that is both shaped by and aims to shape regulatory decision-making. - Investigate the ways in which psychedelic research and other mobilization activities are fueled by and enact personal and collective visions of why and how to re-integrate psychedelics responsibly into society. - Trace the ways in which the U.S. “medicalizing psychedelics” assemblage is embedded and connected globally, as well as gain first insights into how psychedelic research and regulation in the U.S. and Europe mutually impinge on each other. The main conclusions of the action are that psychedelics are powerful technologies that like any other technology need to be used with great care, respect, and humility. ReMedPsy has shown that it is important to think beyond merely medicalizing psychedelics and also engage with social movements that are forming to decriminalize and legalize psychedelics beyond clinical settings.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
This proposal presents a research-via-training project that will transfer knowledge from the U.S. to Europe and allow the experienced researcher to deepen her study of (re-)emerging scientific fields to advance her career significantly. The project explores how scientists and other actors currently re-frame psychedelics in a scientific model to make them into licensed medicines. Since their introduction into Western science and culture (1930s-60s), psychedelic substances such as psilocybin or LSD have been highly controversial. Although early research indicated promising psychiatric applications, Western governments began to see psychedelics as a threat to public health in the 1960s and placed them into the most restrictive drug category, ascribing them a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. After coming to an almost complete standstill for several decades, psychedelic research is slowly re-emerging since 2000, highlighting again their potential for treating mental health issues such as addiction, depression, or PTSD. Since neither the molecules nor regulations have changed, this project investigates which socio-political conditions have enabled this revival (e.g., changes in the scientific or broader culture, risk-benefit evaluations). It traces how the responsible re-integration of psychedelics is fostered through the interplay of actor constellations, the production of scientific knowledge, and sociotechnical imaginaries. Using a qualitative research methodology and approaches from Science and Technology Studies (STS), it focuses on three molecules that are at the center of contemporary research in the U.S. (the country currently at the forefront of psychedelic research): MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. The project results will yield important insights into how psychedelic science and society are co-produced, and provide timely policy recommendations with regard to drug classifications, and drug and public health policies.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITAT WIEN · WienCoordinatorAustria
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · CambridgeUnited States
- PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE · CambridgeUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union