‘How to Change Your Mind’ ... About Psychedelics
The 2022 docuseries lives up to its title, How to Change Your Mind. Eye-opening and fascinating, it will be sure to shatter your current perceptions of psychedelics, and “change your mind” about their role in society.
The series is based on Michael Pollan’s book of the same name and delves into the world of psychedelic drugs from a range of perspectives: historical, cultural, scientific, and also deeply personal. Pollan leads the series, accompanied by interviews from some of the most influential figures in psychedelic research or advocacy, both present and past. The series is split into four episodes, each one focusing on a different psychedelic drug: LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline.
LSD: the first episode describes the well-known “acid”, a compound found in the fungus ergot that grows on rye plants. The episode introduces the idea that psychedelics can be used not only to treat but even to cure mental health problems like PTSD, OCD, alcoholism, anxiety, and depression. The series dispels common misconceptions about the drug and clarifies that LSD is both non-toxic and non-addictive. Engaging the viewer from the start with a Swiss study investigating the effects of LSD on physiology and the brain, the episode then rewinds to Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann’s discovery of the drug in 1938.
The docuseries describes the period of fertile LSD research in the 1950s, and the far-reaching societal implications of LSD use, before the media and government turned against the drug in 1970, banning it for recreational use and scientific research alike. To many, the sudden change in perception of LSD comes down to one thing: false research. LSD’s downfall began with the claim that it damaged chromosomes. Episode three describes that MDMA faced similar hurdles of misinformation and false research when a brain scan of a woman who used MDMA was manipulated to look like it had holes and then televised on Oprah and MTV.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Psilocybin: the second episode reviews the compound found in the caps and stems of magic mushrooms. The episode tells the emotional stories of an individual cured of severe OCD after one psilocybin session and a cancer patient whose depression and existential dread have been alleviated through her psilocybin use. It was classed as a Schedule I substance in 1970, but after years of conferences and discourse, Dr Roland Griffiths received approval for a psilocybin study at Johns Hopkins in 2000, reopening the door to a world of revolutionised mental health treatment. The episode also explores the origins of magic mushroom use by the Mazatec Indians in Oaxaca, Mexico before Spanish colonisers enforced a total ban on the mushrooms.
MDMA: the third episode on the drug ecstasy conveys the promising future for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy against PTSD, with MDMA poised to be the first group of banned drugs to be legalised for treatment. Pollan describes the difference between the mechanism of action of MDMA and the other psychedelic drugs: MDMA causes a flood of serotonin and oxytocin, whilst the others activate serotonin 2A receptors in the brain. The hopeful future of MDMA therapy is largely thanks to Rick Doblin, the founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) who is interviewed in the docuseries. Successful, large-scale phase III trials have already been carried out, comparing how MDMA compares to existing treatments and testing its safety. MDMA treatment for PTSD is set to be reassessed by the FDA in August this year.
The fourth episode on the lesser-known psychedelic mescaline discusses the issue of the appropriation of the Peyote cactus, which has been used by indigenous peoples in North America for 5,500 years. This cactus has been over-harvested and is now endangered, raising concerns about conserving the centuries-old indigenous tradition.
The docuseries manages to find the balance between being thoroughly enjoyable to watch and successful in providing an accessible, holistic overview of psychedelic drugs, in which Pollan conveys the magnitude of their incorporation into healthcare: “Just think how much human suffering could be relieved if we have a new tool that works for depression, that works on anxiety, the fear of dying, addiction. That’s a game changer.”