Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Colorado
How Proposition 122 Impacts Colorado Patients and Practitioners
This past November, Colorado residents voted to pass Proposition 122 in Colorado. This means that once the state has finalized the regulations for licensed healing centers and practitioners, psilocybin-assisted therapeutic services will be legally available in the state of Colorado.
While the use of psilocybin during therapeutic services will not be available until 2024, the decriminalization of the “personal use” of psilocybin mushrooms is effective immediately. This means that it is no longer a criminal offense for individuals to possess, ingest, share or gift psilocybin mushrooms to persons who are at least 21 years of age without remuneration (i.e. payment.)
Although practitioners are legally able to provide counseling, spiritual guidance, and support services for the personal use of psilocybin the new state law limits practitioners administering psychedelic therapy to the following:
Unable to provide psilocybin-assisted therapy until the state of Colorado has finalized the licensing requirements for healing centers and facilitators, expected to be in late 2024.
Sell psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
Suggest or recommend that you use psilocybin mushrooms for therapy or any other purposes.
What Does the Research Say?
Psilocybin are naturally occurring substances found in certain species of mushrooms and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. Growing all over the world, these mushrooms have been used in various ways for centuries by indigenous peoples particularly in Mexico and Central America.
Despite their historic existence, it was not until recently that the Food and Drug Administration announced that psilocybin has proved to be an effective method for treatment-resistant depression and is currently undergoing clinical trials in the hopes that this medicine can be used legally to treat this condition. Beginning in 2018, major research facilities such as Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Harbor-UCLA School of Medicine, and the Heffter Research Institute have conducted studies using psilocybin to help ease end of life anxiety and depression.
Major studies found that moderate doses of psilocybin given to patients with life threatening cancer showed an immediate reduction in anxiety and depression with 60-80% of patients reporting sustained improvement at 6 months and 70% of patients reporting that the psilocybin session was among the top five most meaningful experiences of their lives.
Along with this, a similar study conducted by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine which gave 51 patients a single high-dose of psilocybin with therapeutic support, found that patients reported major decreases in depression and anxiety as well as mindset shifts causing increased optimism, acceptance of death, and a more positive outlook on life.
Researchers believe that these mindset improvements are due to the sense of euphoria and well- being that is created by the natural elements of the drug. Studies have shown that individuals who were administered psilocybin in large doses tend to feel a connection with nature and the universe causing a feeling of purpose and belonging.
It is important to note that psilocybin is still undergoing clinical trials for its ability to treat a variety of conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, end of life distress, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), cluster headaches, and various addictions. Research still needs to be completed in order to definitively state psilocybin’s effectiveness in treating these chronic mental health and physical health conditions, but so far, evidence is overwhelmingly positive.
What are the Side Effects of Psilocybin?
While most individuals who have been administered psilocybin report feelings of euphoria, unity with the universe, change in perception and visual and auditory hallucinations, some of the following side effects have been reported:
Stomach discomfort and nausea
Headaches
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Increased body temperature
Breathing quickly
Vomiting
Facial flushes, sweating and chills.
How are Colorado Practitioners Providing Support Services for the Personal Use of Psilocybin?
As previously stated, Colorado practitioners are unable to sell psilocybin-containing mushrooms for the time being. What they can do now is provide guidance for the safe and effective personal use of psilocybin which has been decriminalized under the personal use clause of the Proposition 122 law.
Conscientious providers are focusing predominantly on the safety of patient use and the relationship that is created between patient and practitioner. It is however important to be able to distinguish the elements that make a conscientious provider. Some providers may elect to initiate a very hands off approach consisting of a single meeting to explain how to get the most out of your psilocybin experience but do not offer education or follow up services to process the experience with the medicine. This approach to psilocybin use should be used with caution. Ideally, a practitioner will educate the patient on the effects of the medicine, provide insight on how to best experience the medicine, and then schedule follow up sessions to process the information, feelings, and realizations gathered during the experience.
Group practices such as Fort Collins based Reflective Healing provide a more long-term approach to psilocybin use aiming to establish a strong connection between patient and practitioner. Practitioners at Reflective healing work with the intention of helping the patient have a transformative experience keeping safety and self-exploration at the forefront of the therapist/client relationship.
Owner and founder of Reflective Healing, Dori Lewis, explains that, “We as practitioners want to develop the therapeutic relationship with our clients prior to their interaction with psilocybin in order to support the most important aspect of the experience. This aspect of course is the integration. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy provides peak psychedelic experiences which are transformative, however, this is not where the healing happens. The healing happens during the integration process where the wisdom that is gleaned during these peak psychedelic experiences is decoded. We discuss what their realizations and discoveries mean and how they can put forth their newfound wisdom in their daily lives- which is what healing truly looks like.”
For more information on Reflective Healing’s approach to Psilocybin Assisted Therapy and to sign up for their newsletter to receive updates on their availability for psilocybin assisted therapy, visit their website.