The course Psychedelic Science at Missouri Western delves into the latest research that supports using psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a promising new medicine for mental disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Students will explore the evidence of successful treatments using substances such as psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, MDMA, ayahuasca, and medical marijuana. Through reading and discussing the required text How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (and other texts), students will gain an understanding of the history of psychedelic use by humans, cultural and legal issues concerning psychedelic use, and methods of psychedelic risk reduction and peer support.
Throughout the course, students will examine the role of psychedelics in expanding creativity and human potential, as well as their effects on the brain. The course will benefit students from various majors, including psychology, nursing, biology/chemistry, philosophy, and business/marketing.
Writing assignments will challenge students to think critically about the topics covered in the course, including modern psychedelic research, medical marijuana, ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, Peyote, and DMT, as well as the dangers of psychedelic use and the future directions of the field.
By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the science and culture behind psychedelics and their potential benefits in the field of mental health.
This course is available for students of MWSU and is currently ongoing.