Opinion: I took part in a 2012 psilocybin trial. What I’m seeing now horrifies me
Reflections on a 2012 Johns Hopkins psilocybin trial argue psychedelic therapy's benefits rely on ritual, community, and extended integration. The article warns commercialization and one-on-one service models raise risks of boundary violations and lasting harm, citing Lykos Therapeutics' FDA rejection and legal scrutiny over sexual abuse at a Phase 2 site. It also contrasts MDMA's oxytocin-driven social effects with classic psychedelics and calls for community-based protocols and stronger oversight.
Why it mattersJohns Hopkins' 2012 psilocybin trial and FDA scrutiny of Lykos require embedding community-led protocols into clinical service design.