Psychedelics drugs

22.05.2024

Psychedelics drugs

Why in the news?                          

            Driven by surge in global trials and low success rate of current medications in treating mental health problems, researchers call for home-grown clinical trials of psychedelic drugs.

About Psychedelics:

• These are drugs that induce states of altered perception, behaviour, consciousness and thought, often with increased awareness of the senses.
• The term ‘psychedelic’ comes from two Greek words denoting mind or soul and manifesting. It is a subset of psychotropic substances that can alter a person’s thoughts and perceptions and elicit intense hallucinations.
• These are categorized into two broad categories:

○Classical psychedelics: These are thought to trigger hallucinations by activating a receptor called serotonin 5-HT, which is widely present in the human body, from the gastrointestinal tract to platelets to the nervous system. Examples: LSD, psilocybin and DMT

○Nonclassical psychedelics: These psychedelics bind to varied receptors. Examples: ketamine and MDMA

• Globally, about five psychedelics are the subject of clinical research for use in treating mental health problems: psilocybin; lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA); ketamine and N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
• Most psychedelics work by increasing the availability of serotonin, a mood stabilizing hormone in the brain, by binding to serotonin receptors (a molecule on the cell surface that binds to a specific chemical, causing a specific effect).
• The United Nations’ Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, lists about 200 psychotropic substances under four schedules, with Schedule I substances having the most potential for abuse. The Convention does not specify which substances, or how many, are psychedelics.

                                                                 Source: Down to earth

Question - Consider the following statements with reference to the Psychedelic drugs:

Statement-I

They induce states of altered perception and behavior.

Statement-II

Classical psychedelics trigger hallucinations by activating a receptor called serotonin 5-HT in the human body.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer A