[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.23,0:00:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in 1943,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.73,0:00:15.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.15,0:00:19.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was developing potential medications\Nfor the treatment of migraine
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.07,0:00:21.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when he's accidentally exposed to one.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.04,0:00:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He felt a little odd and went home,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.73,0:00:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he had a pretty good idea\Nof what he'd been exposed to.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.92,0:00:28.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So three days later,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.18,0:00:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he went back to the lab\Nand took 250 micrograms of LSD.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.78,0:00:34.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.05,0:00:37.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In those days, that was seen\Nas a minute amount to be taking.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.91,0:00:40.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drugs and medications were administered
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.88,0:00:43.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the milligram range,\Nnot the microgram range,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.63,0:00:45.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we know now\Nthat was a pretty solid dose.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.81,0:00:47.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.46,0:00:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as the effects came on, he realized\Nthe lab was not the right place to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.54,0:00:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so he hopped on his bicycle,\Nand he started riding home.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.71,0:01:03.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he describes the vivid imagery,\Nthe beauty in nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.55,0:01:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he went on\Nto self-experiment with LSD,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.08,0:01:09.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,noting that it had these profound effects.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.25,0:01:13.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he didn't know\Nwhat the clinical utility of it was.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.12,0:01:16.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So LSD was sent out\Nto researchers around the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.90,0:01:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it led to thousands\Nof papers being published,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.06,0:01:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,demonstrating that\NLSD-assisted psychotherapy
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.47,0:01:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was effective in treating\Na range of psychological disorders.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.97,0:01:33.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of those researchers\Nwas Timothy Leary,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.12,0:01:36.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,professor in psychology\Nat Harvard University.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.44,0:01:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But unfortunately, Timothy's\Nmethodologies got a little loose.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.45,0:01:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the end there, he was giving out LSD\Nto anyone that would pretty much take it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.26,0:01:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.40,0:01:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he was fired from Harvard, but -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.75,0:01:53.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.52,0:01:57.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this was a time of cultural revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.36,0:02:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Young Americans were taking LSD en masse, \Nand Leary became their figurehead.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.64,0:02:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was seen on national television
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.62,0:02:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,telling the youth\Nto "Turn on, tune in, drop out."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.20,0:02:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was not a good time\Nfor a cultural revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.62,0:02:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The US was at war with Vietnam,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.47,0:02:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the authorities noticed\Nthat those that were protesting the war
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.72,0:02:22.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were taking LSD.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.93,0:02:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So LSD was seen as a threat\Nto the very American institution,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.91,0:02:32.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in 1968 it was banned,\Nand this is the start of the war on drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.40,0:02:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was then banned\Ninternationally in 1971,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.06,0:02:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same year President Nixon said\Nthat drugs are public enemy number one.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.83,0:02:42.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The drugs he was referring to?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.100,0:02:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Psychedelics.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.73,0:02:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sadly, it also meant the end\Nof psychedelic science.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.06,0:02:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With prohibition came\Na propaganda campaign
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.00,0:02:57.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with myths so powerful they've been\Nperpetuated into the present day.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.94,0:03:04.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One myth is that LSD may be contaminated\Nwith the poison strychnine.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.75,0:03:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So powerful is this myth\Nthat it's contained in the fourth edition
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.06,0:03:13.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual\Nof Mental Disorders,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.09,0:03:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,published by the\NAmerican Psychiatric Association,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.46,0:03:21.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it states that one of the dangers\Nof taking LSD is exposure to strychnine.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.18,0:03:23.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this is the diagnostic manual
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.86,0:03:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that psychologists and psychiatrists\Naround the world use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.40,0:03:29.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fortunately, in its most recent edition,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.94,0:03:31.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,published in 2013,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.45,0:03:33.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reference to this has been removed,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.51,0:03:36.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because there's never been\Nany strychnine detected;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.97,0:03:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no evidence to indicate\Nthat strychnine would be contained in LSD.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.52,0:03:47.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet still it was published\Nin this very distinguished book.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.79,0:03:51.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's the concern that if you take LSD,\Nyou're going to lose your mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.33,0:03:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a literature review of all\Nthe clinical studies that were conducted
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.43,0:03:58.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the prohibition of LSD,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.00,0:04:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they found that less that 0.01% of people\Nthat participated in the trials
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.22,0:04:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,experienced any symptoms of psychosis,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.76,0:04:10.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either during or after their \Npsychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.56,0:04:11.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's important here
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.71,0:04:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I distinguish between the medical\Napplication of psychedelic drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.46,0:04:17.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I'm talking about,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.33,0:04:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the recreational use of those drugs,\Nwhich we've become so familiar with.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.38,0:04:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, in 1990,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.46,0:04:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr Rick Strassman,\N
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.30,0:04:31.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a psychiatrist who was trained\Nduring the era of psychedelic therapy
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.98,0:04:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dreamed of being\Na psychedelic therapist,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.37,0:04:37.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was able to re-engage\Nin psychedelic research.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.84,0:04:43.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was encouraged by his supervisor\Nto examine the drug dimethyl-tryptamine
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.74,0:04:46.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the university \Nwouldn't know what it was!
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.26,0:04:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.66,0:04:54.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dimethyl-tryptamine is possibly the most\Npotent psychedelic known to humankind.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.24,0:04:59.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's used by shamans in South America\Nto enter the spirit world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.84,0:05:03.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was encouraged to do\Nsome small-scale blood studies,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.46,0:05:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just looking at\Nthe metabolism of the drug.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.78,0:05:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what he found far more profound\Nwere the participants' experiences.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.46,0:05:13.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They reported being transported\Nto parallel dimensions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.55,0:05:16.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where there were entities\Ncommunicating with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.49,0:05:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eventually Strassman\Nwrapped up his research
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.58,0:05:22.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because he felt it was unethical
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.23,0:05:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be pushing people\Noff this psychological abyss
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.96,0:05:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without knowing where they were going.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.30,0:05:28.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it was too late.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.84,0:05:30.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had opened Pandora's Box.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.93,0:05:36.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we subsequently have seen \Nan explosion of psychedelic research,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.41,0:05:40.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what's now being referred to\Nas the "Psychedelic Renaissance."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.82,0:05:42.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what have we learnt?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.82,0:05:45.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've learnt a lot about the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.97,0:05:49.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what really excites me\Nas a clinically-trained psychologist
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.94,0:05:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is mounting evidence\Nthat psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.22,0:06:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are effective in the treatment for people\Nwho don't respond to current therapies
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.78,0:06:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a range of mental health conditions.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.86,0:06:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's look at the evidence.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.38,0:06:10.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We used to think that psychedelics\Nturned on parts of the mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.78,0:06:13.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've now learnt\N[that] what it actually does
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.18,0:06:17.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is turn off a part of the brain\Ncalled the "default mode network."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.48,0:06:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The default mode network\Nis a series of neural pathways
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.60,0:06:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that connect certain areas\Nof the brain together,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.38,0:06:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while preventing other parts\Nof the brain cross-talking.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.22,0:06:29.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's active whenever\Nyou're in a wakeful state.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.87,0:06:33.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It becomes more active when\Nyou engage in autobiographical narration,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.59,0:06:36.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, that little voice in your head.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.25,0:06:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it becomes hyperactive\Nwhen people experience depression and OCD.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.76,0:06:49.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what happens with psychedelics\Nis it turns the default mode network off.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.38,0:06:51.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what does that look like?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.81,0:06:56.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The picture you can see here\Nis the brain not on psychedelics
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.30,0:06:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the brain on psychedelics.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.54,0:07:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,See all the intercommunication\Nand connectivity
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.24,0:07:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's happening\Nbetween parts of the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.38,0:07:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would never normally communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.50,0:07:10.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's been hypothesized\Nthat this is the reason
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.96,0:07:16.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that people experience creativity\Nand have spiritual experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.13,0:07:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they take psychedelic drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.26,0:07:20.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But more importantly,\Nit's been hypothesized
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.83,0:07:25.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this increased communication\Nand increased connectivity in the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.63,0:07:31.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could help treat people who are\Ntreatment-resistant with depression.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.54,0:07:35.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because with all this interconnectivity\Nhappening in the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.71,0:07:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perhaps they can overcome\Ntheir entrenched beliefs
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.06,0:07:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see the world from\Na completely different perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.84,0:07:45.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this has been tested recently
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.50,0:07:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by a research group\Nat Imperial College London.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.10,0:07:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They gave people psilocybin, which is\Nthe active ingredient in magic mushrooms,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.53,0:07:56.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to twelve people
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.57,0:08:00.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were treatment-resistant\Nin the context of psychotherapy.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.22,0:08:01.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The results?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.95,0:08:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When given the psilocybin,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.65,0:08:07.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a significant reduction\Nin depression symptoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.17,0:08:11.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was maintained for many people\Nat a three-month follow-up.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.50,0:08:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's more interesting is
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.34,0:08:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[that] because they were doing \Nbrain scans at the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.04,0:08:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the people that had the most significant\Nreductions in depressive symptoms
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.73,0:08:25.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were those whose default mode network\Nwas turned off the most.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.48,0:08:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Addiction is another area\Nwhere we see poor outcomes.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.68,0:08:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A group at Johns Hopkins University
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.70,0:08:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conducted a trial of \Npsilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.85,0:08:40.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the treatment of tobacco addiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.79,0:08:43.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The results were astonishing -
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.20,0:08:48.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they found that 80% had quit smoking\Nat a six-month follow-up -
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.23,0:08:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you consider\Nthe leading pharmaceutical today
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.36,0:08:56.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the treatment of tobacco cessation\Nis only effective for 25% of people.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.81,0:09:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This group is now\Nrecruiting more participants
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.38,0:09:04.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and conducting clinical trials to gather\Nfurther evidence for this treatment.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.97,0:09:08.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meanwhile, at New York University,\Nthey're recruiting 140 people
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.57,0:09:14.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate\Nwhether psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.83,0:09:17.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is effective for people\Nwith alcohol dependence.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.31,0:09:23.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've also found that psychedelics\Ncan help people die with dignity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.47,0:09:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Numerous studies have been published now.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.20,0:09:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Clinical trials, showing that when\Npsychedelic-assisted therapy
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.20,0:09:36.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is provided to people\Nwho are experiencing end-stage cancer,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.05,0:09:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they see a significant reduction\Nin anxiety symptoms,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.54,0:09:47.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an increase in the quality of their life,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.31,0:09:51.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and their relationships\Nwith their significant others improve.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.28,0:09:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another disorder\Nthat's extremely debilitating
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.68,0:09:58.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.87,0:10:03.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The current treatments we have\Nare only effective for 30% of people.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.03,0:10:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those that don't respond to treatment
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.36,0:10:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are at risk of addiction,\Nof relationship breakdown, and suicide.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.03,0:10:17.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the first clinical trial\Nof MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.46,0:10:21.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for people who are treatment-resistant\Nwith post-traumatic stress disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.85,0:10:25.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[they] found that there was \Na significant improvement.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.86,0:10:27.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.68,0:10:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,83% of participants no longer met\Nthe diagnostic criteria for PTSD
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.05,0:10:35.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after receiving\NMDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.82,0:10:39.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was sustained\Nfor three-and-a-half years follow-up.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.96,0:10:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This study has now been replicated
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.72,0:10:49.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Israel, Colorado, Canada, Switzerland,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.20,0:10:51.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the sponsor of the trial,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.35,0:10:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Multidisciplinary Association\Nfor Psychedelic Studies,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.60,0:10:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been able to pull that data,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.70,0:11:00.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they have approached\Nthe US Food and Drug Administration
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.09,0:11:04.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now have approval\Nto conduct Phase 3 clinical trials.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.54,0:11:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is this significant?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.99,0:11:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Phase 3 clinical trials are the final\Nstage before a drug becomes a medicine.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.34,0:11:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so in the next few years,\Nwe will see MDMA as a medicine
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.38,0:11:20.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the treatment of PTSD, in the US.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.70,0:11:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I've mentioned a number\Nof countries: Israel, Canada, UK.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.65,0:11:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's other countries engaged\Nin the psychedelic renaissance as well:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.20,0:11:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Brazil, the Czech Republic,\Neven New Zealand,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.44,0:11:34.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there's one country \NI've not mentioned.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.12,0:11:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is it?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.82,0:11:41.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is there no psychedelic\Nresearch in Australia?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.80,0:11:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.65,0:11:48.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I can tell you\Nit's not through a lack of effort.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.77,0:11:56.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2011, given that I believe that\Nthese compounds, these psychedelic drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.51,0:12:02.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could assist in the suffering\Nof hundreds of thousands of Australians,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.27,0:12:07.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I helped form Psychedelic Research\Nin Science and Medicine,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.08,0:12:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Australia's first and only not-for-profit\Nincorporated organization
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.44,0:12:12.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that has a mission
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.75,0:12:17.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to initiate, fund and facilitate\Npsychedelic research in Australia.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.98,0:12:21.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've developed a strong\Ncollaboration with MAPS,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.25,0:12:27.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so our first attempt\Nwas to conduct, basically, the same trial
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.89,0:12:32.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they've been doing in the US,\Nin Israel, in Colorado, in Switzerland;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.58,0:12:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except we wanted to focus on war veterans.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.02,0:12:38.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The reason being was strategic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.18,0:12:42.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What kills more Australian soldiers \Nthan anything else?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.64,0:12:47.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You beat me to the punch!
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.58,0:12:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not bombs; it's not bullets;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.54,0:12:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's suicide.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.27,0:12:55.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is an epidemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.39,0:12:58.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We thought this would gain public support,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.17,0:13:04.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we submitted the research protocol\Nto an independent ethics committee.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.08,0:13:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They had no problem with the methodology;
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.03,0:13:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they didn't have a problem\Nwith administering MDMA to war veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.34,0:13:13.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with post-traumatic stress disorder\Nthat had not responded to treatment,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.45,0:13:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they were concerned
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.03,0:13:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it wasn't being conducted\Nin an academic environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.40,0:13:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we sought out a professor
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.44,0:13:23.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who would come on board\Nas the Chief Investigator.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.84,0:13:26.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was based at a Victorian university,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.88,0:13:30.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and last year we submitted the protocol
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.26,0:13:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to that Victorian university's \Nethics committee.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.61,0:13:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before it reached the ethics committee,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.25,0:13:41.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor\Nstepped in and vetoed it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.66,0:13:46.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said, "We're not conducting\Nthis sort of research at our university."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.60,0:13:51.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we believe this is the result\Nof academic conservatism.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.82,0:13:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what do I mean by that?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.76,0:13:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, when you think of people\Nwho use illicit drugs,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.02,0:14:00.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most people don't experience harm.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.62,0:14:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet all the research we conduct
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.70,0:14:06.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is focused on this small group\Nwho do experience harm.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.41,0:14:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's been described by Mugford\Nas the pathological paradigm of drug use.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.66,0:14:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.90,0:14:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drugs are not illegal\Nbecause they're harmful;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.52,0:14:18.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're perceived as harmful\Nbecause they're illegal,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.85,0:14:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and only research\Nthat perceptuates that perception
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.40,0:14:25.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is funded by the government.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.61,0:14:29.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a major barrier to conducting\Npsychedelic science in Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.83,0:14:31.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we want to demonstrate
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.40,0:14:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the therapeutic benefit\Nof these illicit substances.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.56,0:14:39.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Further, there's vested interests
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.98,0:14:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in people who are delivering and\Ninvestigating the conventional treatments.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.56,0:14:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They say they work.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.78,0:14:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meanwhile, institutions are getting\Nsignificant government funding
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.32,0:15:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to perpetuate the idea that illicit drugs,\Nincluding psychedelics, are harmful.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.71,0:15:05.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This has not led us to give up.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.62,0:15:09.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the past six months,\Nwe've published the first two papers
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.05,0:15:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on psychedelic science\Nin the Australian scientific literature.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.88,0:15:19.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We hope that this will increase\Nthe awareness of academics,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.44,0:15:22.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increase the awareness\Nof healthcare providers
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.48,0:15:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we can have another go
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.05,0:15:30.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and get MDMA-assisted psychotherapy\Nand other psychedelic research
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.21,0:15:32.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,underway in Australia.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.09,0:15:34.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because if we don't act now,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.04,0:15:38.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if we don't start a psychedelic\Nscience program in Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.24,0:15:42.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hundreds of thousands\Nof Australians will continue to suffer.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.57,0:15:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,War veterans will continue\Nto commit suicide,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:46.42,0:15:49.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or MDMA becomes a medicine in the US,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.68,0:15:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they fly to the US to get treatment.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.10,0:15:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How long will it take
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.70,0:15:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before Australia joins\Nthe international psychedelic renaissance?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.75,0:16:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.92,0:16:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)