Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
22 November 2024 | 16:00 CAT
2 min read

The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) has urged caution regarding the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” for mental health treatment. While early research suggests potential benefits for conditions like depression, PTSD, and addiction, experts highlight the lack of large-scale studies and unknown long-term effects.

SASOP warns that psilocybin’s hallucinogenic properties pose risks such as anxiety, paranoia, and erratic behaviour, especially when used without medical supervision.

Speaking to Radio Islam, SASOP’s Dr Gerhard Grobler reiterates that psilocybin is still a prohibited substance in South Africa. “We as responsible practitioners cannot recommend its use, we are looking at the research around psilocybin. We would like to do our own research within a South African context and see if it’s safe for our population, we don’t want to just rely on international research,” he said.

He noted that psilocybin is a controlled substance and is not freely available. “We don’t recommend the use of psilocybin or MDMA per say but rather psilocybin-assisted therapy. So the interesting question is, is it the therapy or the mushroom or the combination that gives the improvement… and that is where the research is at the moment,” he added.

Grobler highlighted that challenges are being raised following the decision to allow marijuana for personal use, with similar arguments being made for psilocybin. Advocates claim that mushrooms pose a low risk and do not lead to significant medical or psychiatric conditions. He emphasised that for medical use, psilocybin should only be administered under the guidance of an experienced and trained medical professional. This must follow a thorough risk assessment and take place in a controlled environment where medical assistance is readily available in case of adverse reactions. “It can be used as any other form of medicine, provided that the courts agree with the decriminalisation which is not the case at the moment,” he said.

He acknowledged promising data suggesting that psilocybin may have the potential to treat conditions such as major depression, PTSD, and certain substance-use disorders. However, its safety and effectiveness depend on individual health factors, as certain conditions, dosage levels, and the concomitant use of other substances can make it dangerous.

He noted an ongoing debate, particularly in the Global South, about whether making these medicines more accessible within legal boundaries should focus on using natural products rather than synthetic alternatives.

“The problem with that is quality control so like with any natural growing product, you might have variations with the purity. If you start creating it synthetically in a laboratory you can have more regular quality control and control the dosing, but you drive up the cost, and make it less accessible. There is argument to both of these sides, but that debate is ongoing,” said Grobler.

Some countries, like Australia, have begun allowing psilocybin in strictly controlled medical settings, but Sasop emphasises the need for further research before endorsing its widespread use.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and SASOP’s Dr Gerhard Grobler here.