August 10, 2006Is Special K The Way?No doubt, most of you have already run into news of the study that establishes that the anesthetic ketamine—aka, Special K, aka the club drug that makes you want to dance all night—has rapid, positive and long-acting effects on treatment refractory depression. This comes to us courtesy of an NIMH-sponsored study which involved 17 patients (so the evidence is preliminary at best), but it comes as no surprise to me that a pain killer used in low doses would have a positive effect on depression. It won't become widely (or even narrowly) used, because it is only injectable and it's not practical to restrict people from using it in higher doses—and getting high. What amuses the hell out of me is that the government funded a study involving a drug which, on the other hand, the government (ie, the DEA) says is bad for people—cuz it gets you high. Typical governmental paradox there. What makes this even funnier to me is that the feds will allow ketamine to be studied for use in depression but will not allow studies of marijuana for depression. Apparently, ketamine's manufacturer has a better lobbyist that the tens of millions of Americans who smoke weed. Posted by Philip Dawdy at August 10, 2006 12:01 AM
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Ahhh, Special K...If only it would make it's way into our mental health world. In my career, I watched it work it's way as a date rape drug, similar to PCP, only to have children look like zombies, shell's of themselves, only after a few uses of this meth-like drug. These are the times, when I truly wish I wish I was still a cop. When I could take these so called scientists out for a 'real-life' ride on what "Special-K" does to a brain. In my almost 10 years as as a cop, I can't remember an incident of a knife fight of a group of Stoners (not counting drugs deal gone bad.) What's next? Meth is good for a Bipolar brain? That is truly the most shameful piece of med information I have heard in a while. I wonder how many dual-diagnosis we will get out of their experiment? Posted by: Angie at August 10, 2006 01:13 AM http://www.dea.gov/concern/ketamine_factsheet.html
The powder form can be used for injection when dissolved.
If you think that Gov Funded study is a joke, take a look at this one:
Findings could lead to treatments for addiction, depression Tuesday, July 11, 2006 NEW YORK (AP) -- People who took an illegal drug made from mushrooms reported profound mystical experiences that led to behavior changes lasting for weeks -- all part of an experiment that recalls the psychedelic '60s. Many of the 36 volunteers rated their reaction to a single dose of the drug, called psilocybin, as one of the most meaningful or spiritually significant experiences of their lives. Some compared it to the birth of a child or the death of a parent. Such comments "just seemed unbelievable," said Roland Griffiths of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, the study's lead author. But don't try this at home, he warned. "Absolutely don't." Almost a third of the research participants found the drug experience frightening even in the very controlled setting. That suggests people experimenting with the illicit drug on their own could be harmed, Griffiths said. Viewed by some as a landmark, the study is one of the few rigorous looks in the past 40 years at a hallucinogen's effects. The researchers suggest the drug someday may help drug addicts kick their habit or aid terminally ill patients struggling with anxiety and depression. It may also provide a way to study what happens in the brain during intense spiritual experiences, the scientists said. Funded in part by the federal government, the research was published online Tuesday by the journal Psychopharmacology. Psilocybin has been used for centuries in religious practices, and its ability to produce a mystical experience is no surprise. But the new work demonstrates it more clearly than before, Griffiths said. Even two months after taking the drug, pronounced SILL-oh-SY-bin, most of the volunteers said the experience had changed them in beneficial ways, such as making them more compassionate, loving, optimistic and patient. Family members and friends said they noticed a difference, too. Charles Schuster, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the work a landmark. "I believe this is one of the most rigorously well-controlled studies ever done" to evaluate psilocybin or similar substances for their potential to increase self-awareness and a sense of spirituality, he said. He did not participate in the research. Psilocybin, like LSD or mescaline, is one of a class of drugs called hallucinogens or psychedelics. While they have been studied by scientists in the past, research was largely shut down after widespread recreational abuse of the drugs during the 1960s, Griffiths said. Some work resumed in the 1990s. "We've lost 40 years of (potential) research experience with this whole class of compounds," he said. Now, with modern-day scientific methods, "I think it's time to pick up this research field." The study volunteers had an average age of 46, had never used hallucinogens, and participated to some degree in religious or spiritual activities such as prayer, meditation, discussion groups or religious services. Each tried psilocybin during one visit to the lab and the stimulant methylphenidate (better known as Ritalin) on one or two other visits. Only six of the volunteers knew when they were getting psilocybin. Each visit lasted eight hours. The volunteers lay on a couch in a living-room-like setting, wearing an eye mask and listening to classical music. They were encouraged to focus their attention inward. Psilocybin's effects lasted for up to six hours, Griffiths said. Twenty-two of the 36 volunteers reported having a "complete" mystical experience, compared with four of those getting methylphenidate. That experience included such things as a sense of pure awareness and a merging with ultimate reality, a transcendence of time and space, a feeling of sacredness or awe, and deeply felt positive mood like joy, peace and love. People say "they can't possibly put it into words," Griffiths said. Two months later, 24 of the participants filled out a questionnaire. Two-thirds called their reaction to psilocybin one of the five top most meaningful experiences of their lives. On another measure, one-third called it the most spiritually significant experience of their lives, with another 40 percent ranking it in the top five. About 80 percent said that because of the psilocybin experience, they still had a sense of well-being or life satisfaction that was raised either "moderately" or "very much." Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. Being 46 myself, I think this could have been condusive with my recent meditation experiment. How ground breaking, to have been part of a Gov funded study, getting to lay on a couch with an eye mask listening to classical music, getting loaded on Government paid for dope made from magic mushrooms. Way to go America, we rock. Angie. I wish you were still a cop too, and it pisses me off that you aren't. In the darkest hours of my daughter's illness, when cops brought her home to me, and made comments they wanted to call AMR, and instead, I linked arms with her and got her inside of the house, and then placed my kitchen chair in front of the door all night, awake, I wish you were one who came here. Thank you for your work you did. I have experimented with many illegal and "bad" street drugs, and my conclusion is that NONE of them have been so detrimental to my psychological and physical health as the pharmaceutical psych drugs I was prescribed by medical professionals. NEVER has marijuana or mushrooms, or hell- even abused prescription opiates- landed me in the ER, forced me to drop out of an extremely competitive university because of intolerable side effects or perilous, protracted withdrawal symptoms (BENZODIAZAPINES). The drugs that are currently illegal in this country are used to enhance life, to see things from a slightly different (or better or more introspective) perspective for a little while. Anti-depressants are a way of life. Anti-psychotics are a way of life. And my life on them (and of course, this is only my personal, anecdotal experience) was a very muted non-life. I watch my many friends who smoke marijuana and who have experimented with "harder" drugs on the rare occasion excel in medical school, law school, graduate school- and I see the vast majority of those labeled "mentally ill" at university languishing on disability. And they categorically blame Seroquel, Zyprexa, paradoxical reactions to SSRIs, withdrawal from benzodiazapines- for their blunted cognitive abilities, lack of motivation and inability to participate in life the way they once were able to. Now you tell me what mental "health" means. Posted by: Lily at August 12, 2006 10:04 AMLily- And for the record, I am a TOTAL advocate for medical marijuana. I would rather see that replaced in our society than alcohol. Alcohol withdrawls will kill you-marijuana withdrawls will not. Anti-psychotics are very messy. We do not know what they are doing to our bodies. There has not been enough research done, and those that have been over prescribed on them, as I have, know the effects can be horrific. On the other hand, this has been my observation over the years. Drugs like Special-K, Meth, Crack, etc, Oxy-cotin, etc lead to much larger probems. Generally they lead to criminal acts because they need and access it not as easy as going to your doc and walking to the pharmacy. This creates an interesting arging point for one who does want to argue drug policy in this country. The goverment has a pill for any and everything, and for those of us dealing with mental illness, those drugs are very dangerous and many of them mimic the effects of otherwise illegal drugs. So really, one can argue that our goverment is one big ass legal drug dealer and they don't want competetion. But because other drugs are illegal and people start using them and needing them, sometimes they start committing criminal acts to afford and buy these drugs. For someone with mental illness, that is the worst possible situation ever. It's hard enough to deal with the discrimination and sterotypes on the outside, you should see how they treat mentally ill on the inside (I worked in a jail when I was younger). That's a topic I could go on about forever... Posted by: Angie at August 14, 2006 09:57 AMI had a session with my doctor today, and I told him I am a pseudopatient. I got that from a book I just read. Anyway, he seemed to agree in that I'm different from the normal pateint. But I'm more than just differnet. I'm PSUEDO different. So there. Posted by: Gwen at August 14, 2006 10:34 PMWhat does that mean exactly? I would hope all our shrinks would treat us as individuals.... Posted by: Angie at August 15, 2006 12:21 AMHi Angie, Yeah, I don't know. Somtimes I like to think I don't have schizophrenia. It makes me feel better. I'll tell my doctor "No, I don't have schizophrenia, I have borderline, or something else!" I like to say stuff like that... Oh, and also, Angie, I've been meaning to ask you -- what's prison like? I'm so scared that I'll do something bad and I'll end up there. My plan, if I ever do go to prison, is to not eat or drink and then I'll die of dehydration or starvation. Cause I really wouldn't want to be there... Think that's a good plan? Gwen Posted by: Gwen at August 15, 2006 11:46 AMI am not sure what prison is like. I worked in a jail. Two totally different operations. I am pretty sure you don't have to worry about going but if you are worried you can scrap your plan about not eating or drinking because you would be on suicide watch and force fed. Regardless of what the government says, you are only a number in jail or prision. Posted by: Angie at August 15, 2006 07:55 PMMedical Cannabis sativa. "Dear Editor, Testing my new blog....... Posted by: Stephany at August 18, 2006 09:37 PMOK yes, there is a new blog of mine. You'll find out I talk too much. Join me! Posted by: Stephany at August 19, 2006 04:58 PMhttp://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0634/letters.php Awesome Philip! Posted by: Stephany at August 22, 2006 09:42 PM |
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