As a mental health and chemical dependency advocate, I have a basic knowledge of the practices used to treat this large demographic. With that knowledge, I also know that traditional treatment does not always prove to be helpful.

I want to be taken seriously within the healthcare field by helping to move it forward with practices that may not sound entirely practical. All that I ask is that you keep an open mind with this topic and start a discussion (whether you agree, disagree or are somewhere in-between).

Some recreational drugs aren't actually that terrible

Back in the '60s and '70s, the peaceful hippies of the world were gathering outside to become one with each other, the Earth and music; with a little help from psychedelic substances to enhance the experience.

Somehow, the government found out that they weren’t invited to the parties and shut it all down, claiming LSD (or acid) and other mind-altering, unregulated drugs were death inducing and evil.

OK, so it did not go down exactly like that, but you get the picture.

Potentially addictive and dangerous prescription drugs are even considered less harmful than the illicit drugs that have been placed on the DEA’s (Drug Enforcement Agency) list of Schedule I drugs, meaning these substances are classified as, "drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."

After psychedelic substances were added to the Schedule I drug list, we were told through the media, in school, by our parents, health care professionals and the law that drugs like MDMA, LSD, Psilocybin (mushrooms) and many others would kill us and had zero positive effects.

Yet, here we are now (in the U.S.) hearing about the overprescribing of opioid painkillers and a serious heroin epidemic.

Marijuana is even considered a Schedule I drug, even with its tested and proven medical benefits and legalization in many states.

Well, as new studies arise (mostly in other countries due to the U.S.’ strict drug policies) doctors and the general public are quickly learning that these substances may not be so harmful after all.

In fact, they may be beneficial to the right patients.

The Potential Benefits

MDMA (also known as Ecstasy or Molly) has actually been approved very recently in the U.S. for trials to study its effects on PTSD. This recreational substance is typically popular within the “rave” scene and, yes, we do hear about fatal overdoses at music festivals, but those fatalities are from environmental factors such as heat stroke and dehydration associated with an ecstasy overdose.

In other countries, such as England, the effects of Psilocybe (from the active chemical in “magic mushrooms”) are being studied for the treatment of depression, along with LSD and Ketamine (an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians).

In particular, The Beckley Foundation is a popular organization that conducts studies on psychedelics and their treatment benefits for mental illnesses.

The commonality between these mind-altering substances is they do just that: alter the mind. This means that connections and processes within the brain are actually changing.

LSD has been found to be helpful with treating alcoholism, specifically because the brain is essentially jumbled into confusion for a short period of time and new connections are formed to help the recipient gain a different point of view and process the information differently.

Psilocybin was shown to promote “openness” and a more positive outlook for severely depressed patients and cancer patients.

MDMA has drastically improved the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), allowing patients to process their trauma in a controlled and comfortable environment.

Psychedelics also have the ability to open one's mind and unlock creativity, therefore aiding in faster and unique problem-solving tactics, because brain pathways that typically do not connect, have been connected (which contributes to reports that some users could see sounds or taste colors).

However, most importantly, many of the therapeutic practices that would involve administering psychedelics by "micro-dosing". This means that only extremely low doses are used during sessions, along with having licensed therapists monitoring participants at all times.

What stands in the way of legalizing these drugs for therapeutic use?

This all sounds like the magic cure to chronic mental illness and addiction, but these drugs are in the early stages of being studied, and mainstream media and the government are still not exactly on board.

Also, a huge reason why these substances are so tough to study is, of course, money.

Professor David Nutt has been a major asset to these studies (at one point losing his government job in Britain because he publicly spoke out about the benefits of some drug treatment). He explained in an interview with "Vice" that in order for his researchers to study Psilocybe and other substances alike, each dose costs about $1,800 USD (£1,500).

Plus, these studies are not government funded and have to rely on crowdfunding and charitable donations in order to afford these trials.

If you are curious about how helpful these substances are, please remember that the drug market on the streets is much different from the substances that these scientists and doctors have been studying. Also, drugs like MDMA are currently in such high demand that they barely even contain MDMA, and can contain a cocktail of more harmful substances.

If you insist on using these drugs recreationally, at least test them first (you can buy testing kits online) and never use without a sober "sitter".

To read more about the medical benefits and findings, please visit any of these sites:

∙The Beckley Foundation

∙MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)

∙The Third Wave

Now, let's start a conversation (or debate) about these alternative methods for treatment. Look up evidence-based information, and learn the facts surrounding micro-dosing with psychedelics before passing judgment.

Clearly, there are more directions to treating mental illness and addiction than relying solely on pharmaceutical treatments. If the less popular methods prove to be helpful for some, then I feel they are worth looking further into.