Australia has become the world’s first country to recognize psychedelics as a valid treatment for mental health disorders. 

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reclassified MDMA and psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound present in magic mushrooms, in February 2023 and declared them fit for use for therapeutic purposes. “Psilocybin and MDMA are relatively safe when used in a medically controlled setting under the supervision of appropriately trained healthcare professionals and in the dosages that have been studied in clinical trials,” the TGA says on its website.

As per new regulations that have been set in place since July 1, qualified psychiatrists can now prescribe MDMA or ecstasy for patients living with PTSD and magic mushrooms for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). To be able to prescribe these drugs, psychiatrists will need to be an Authorized Prescriber (AP) and a part of the TGA’s Authorized Prescriber Scheme. 

MDMA, which is better known as a “party drug,” and magic mushrooms is believed to increase energy levels and sensory experiences. 

But is it really effective?

TGA, which is Australia’s regulatory body responsible for monitoring and assessing therapeutic products, does acknowledge that the usage of MDMA and psilocybin is not completely supported by scientific evidence. 

Studies have shown the efficacy of magic mushrooms in combating depression and demonstrating encouraging results. However, researchers do not advocate self-medication, and all such substances need to be taken under medically supervised conditions.

“…there is now sufficient evidence that psilocybin and MDMA will potentially be effective in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively, for certain patients. In particular, clinical trials have shown promise when they are used in combination with psychotherapy conducted in strictly controlled medical settings,” the TGA clarifies.