His thesis does not function as appeals to visceral hedonism or as pilgrim theories of the masking of addiction. On the contrary: it brings together conflicting studies, personal experiences, and alternative strategies that help achieve progress in institutional systems. Anton Gomez Escolar, a psychopharmacologist and founder of the educational channel Drogopedia (alone on Instagram, with 51,000 followers), believes in the ability of psychedelics to treat mental health illnesses. Although there is still a practice that approaches legality or the talk about these substances is controversial, there is no doubt that “what science teaches us is that certain drugs, in certain controlled contexts and for certain people, can treat.”
These are the contexts in which psychological counseling is indicated. These people have problems with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or addiction, among other ailments. The investigator tried this today and has since discussed this type of item: “In my case, the orthodox was not very effective,” admits the 37-year-old native of Madrid, “he was undergoing treatment with psychologists and psychiatrists, taking antidepressants of all kinds, benzodiazepines… but he did not have such a good response from some people. Yes, as in the best, when I saw that it was getting worse, I decided to look for another item.” alternative.”
The alternative, in a controlled space, consists of two sessions with psychedelic substances combined with psychotherapy. “You were amazing. You completely changed my way of understanding the world,” he says. Thanks to this result and the realization of its potential, Gomez Escolar specializes in this field. I navigated the world of hallucinogens, examining their promise and dangers. It was then disseminated across networks and in books such as An essential guide to the psychedelic revival the Expand your mindwas published a few months ago by Grijalbo. The researcher is decisive when it comes to defending the reach of these substances, but also when it comes to warning about their potential negative effects: “The only way to avoid any risk is not to consume,” he sternly warns.
This warning includes all types of medicines, whether legal, alleged or pharmaceutical. From coffee, to the most consumed beverages, to tobacco and alcohol – the most harmful over a long period – including anxiolytics. Because the word medicine is a volatile concept, ranging from a drug to a chemical experiment, delineating cultural currents or normative schools. For Gomez-Escolar, the most popular ones that could gain in the coming years due to their role in mental health are psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, or MDMA. “The drug cannot be considered a first-line treatment, but it is still an option for people who have not had good effectiveness with traditional methods,” the expert insists.
These materials are still offered as a “second, third, or fourth option” and often continue to be offered after years of failed attempts. “Drug will not be the first line of battle in mental health, but the last ditch,” he says. Therefore, many things must change regarding the legality of these treatments, but in a non-legal field. “Many therapists who work underground He did this with narcotics patients taking to reduce the legal risks they would take when giving their patient an unapproved drug.
Gomez-Escolar explains the effectiveness of this treatment based on three pillars. The first and most revolutionary is neuroplasticity. “Drugs stimulate neuroplasticity in the brain, which increases the ability of neural networks to reconfigure,” he explains. “If you are in a therapeutic context, this will require many psychotherapy sessions and you can achieve this in just a few moments.” The second is to alter brain activity, allowing unconscious beliefs and other automatic cognitive processes to emerge that can be the substrate for disorders such as depression. The third is the patient’s “highly revealing” subjective experience that can reveal hidden keys to recovery.
In opposition to traditional psychotropic substances, which “generally cover up the symptoms,” are used “daily for a long period” and often keep the patient “like an infant, detached from his emotions,” psychedelics do the opposite. “This allows the patient to reconnect with themselves and delve deeper into the underlying causes of the disorders in a safe context, so they can work on them,” he points out. This process, which can be painful when trauma is brought to light, is why a controlled context is so important: “If done lightly, it can lead to reliving a difficult experience, traumatizing you again.” Gomez Escolar insists that this is not a drug per se, but rather a “psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy” that produces a long-lasting therapeutic effect. Sustainability is an enhancer.
For the promoter, it serves as a “catalyst” or “amplifier” of what is in and around the individual. Here’s why it matters Adjust and prepare (That means mental state and environment): “The difference between taking 200 micrograms of LSD in consultation with a specialist after a lot of preparation and taking it impromptu at a music festival in August at 40 degrees,” he explains, while also recalling the social and political situation of banning these substances. Above all, from the 1970s onwards, when they reached a certain social peak. Add that your ban was not accidental. Ni Positive: “It was a disaster for scientific research, because it disappeared.” According to the writer, these trends related to materials have become excessively politicized. “Now psychedelics have become a laboratory and a hospital. It’s a landmark scientific movement,” he says. In his opinion, this “psychedelic revival” is much more dangerous and has the potential to reach what it has reached before.
Spain could emerge after it was one of the leading countries, but it was late. “In 2002, the world’s first investigation using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress in women victims of sexual violence was canceled at the Hospital de la Paz in Madrid,” he points out. He says: I chose it as the abolition that kept us away from the avant-garde. Meanwhile, countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic have allowed these treatments. “The question is: Do we want to stay on the bandwagon or are we going to start moving this way?” he concludes, listing some articles, universities and names promoting this field of psychotherapy.
The image given to the population of these materials may be the obstacle. Gomez-Escolar criticizes disastrous campaigns that put all medicines in one bag and do not take into account the context of use. “When a very disastrous message is constantly presented about all drugs, regardless of whether they are used in a hospital or at a festival, a lot of harm is generated that slows down the investigation. Moreover, at the level of recreational use, we are testing the dynamics of the current situation.” Pedro and the wolf“If you test these materials, you realize that is not the case, even at first, and you end up not fully trusting that message, which leads to consuming greater risks and greater problems,” he maintained.
“It’s not about encouraging consumption, but whoever decides to do it, even knowing the risks, does so in the safest way possible,” he says, without calling for general legalization. On the other hand: Gómez Escolar believes that the path must be slow and controlled, and the initiation of therapeutic use: “If you allow from night until morning the use of very strong, complex and unknown substances in the West, there will most likely be problems. They have been there for decades and they will come back.” Your goal is to give time for the community to absorb and understand these tools of research and education, prioritizing those who need them most. Thus this narcotic revolution will open its path, leaving behind stigmas and free from free slogans. “It will be serious and scientific, with a great therapeutic approach,” he says.
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