Psychedelics [Paperback]

A pithy, vibrant and accessible explainer to the past, present and future of psychedelics, from Ancient India to addiction therapy and beyond.

Psilocybin. LSD. Ketamine. MDMA. These are the drugs that will change mental health treatment forever. We’re on the cusp of a psychedelic revolution. But how did we get here? And if the drugs are so great, why aren’t they legalized already?

This book examines the long, turbulent history of psychedelics, from their ancient and spiritual significance to their astonishing medical potential, from Ancient India to 1960s San Francisco to the labs of today and tomorrow. It explores how they might prompt spiritual revelation, reveals their long cultural legacy and traces the development of psychedelic medicine, ultimately asking the question: how can these mind-altering substances alter the world for good?Mattha Busbyis a writer and journalist reporting on drug policy, culture and health. He writes regularly forThe Guardian, ViceandThe Times, among others, and is the author of the bookShould All Drugs Be Legalized?(T&H, 2022)– What are psychedelics? – Mystical experiences – Into the mainstream – The Psychedelic Renaissance – Psychedelics today – What does the future hold?