Could psychedelics be the answer to the mental health crisis? Join me in Episode #299 as I sit down with psychologist and academic, Dr Stephen Bright, to examine the prevalence of drug usage, what this means in the context of mental health, and how psilocybin and MDMA might be the future of mental health treatment.
“A lot of people that experience substance use-related issues have pre-existing trauma and they’re using substances as a way to manage the symptoms associated with their trauma.”
Stephen Bright, PhD has worked as a psychologist within the Mental Health & AOD field for the past 15 years and is currently Senior Lecturer of Addiction at Edith Cowan University. Stephen is a strong advocate of harm reduction and an evidence-based approach to AOD legislation. His PhD related to the public perceptions and media portrayal of AOD use and the implications of this for drug-related harm, including the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances. As a leading Australian voice on the role of drug policy on emerging drug trends such as synthetic cannabis and dark web marketplaces, he brings a wealth of insight and experience to today’s conversation.
“A bit of scepticism is healthy, and I think people should remain sceptical of these experimental treatments… to ensure [a patient’s] choice is informed by good evidence and not hype.”
You’ll learn about the most common drugs in Australia, including cannabis, cocaine, MDMA, and psychedelics. We discuss how these drugs are portrayed in the media, why workplace drug screening may be harmful, and current and upcoming research in the field of psychedelics as a medical treatment option. Dr Bright also shares his views on how decriminalisation and legalisation can help protect vulnerable people.
Specifically, we discuss:
- Introduction to the Podcast (0:00:00)
- Stephen Bright: Journey into Psychedelic Research (0:01:24)
- Trends in Drug Use Across Australia and Western Nations (0:06:52)
- Detecting Cocaine and Cannabis: Health Impacts (0:15:56)
- Legal Status of Synthetic Cannabis (0:18:35)
- Cannabis Usage Trends: Analysis (0:20:45)
- Vaping vs Smoking: Health Perspectives (0:28:10)
- Impact of Drug Use on Mental Health in Australia (0:31:26)
- Current Mental Health Treatment Approaches (0:37:07)
- Exploring Entheogens and Psychedelics (0:47:35)
- Academic Advancements in Psychedelic Research (0:49:58)
- Efficacy of MDMA and Psilocybin in Therapy (0:57:40)
- Psychedelic Research: Australia’s Journey (1:11:02)
- Understanding Psychedelic Scepticism (1:17:17)
- Intersection of Psychedelics and Religious Practices (1:23:22)
- Psychedelics and Spiritual Awakening (1:27:12)
- Current Psychedelic Research Trends in Australia (1:29:34)
- Evolving Treatments for Mental Health Conditions (1:33:00)
- How Legalising Psychedelics Could Influence Drug Use (1:36:32)
- Psychedelics in Preventative Mental Health Strategies (1:38:35)
- Decriminalisation vs Legalisation of Psychedelics: A Comparative Analysis (1:41:28)
- Wrap-Up: Key Insights and Conclusions (1:56:40)
I hope this episode helps broaden your perspective on potential treatment options for mental health. As more studies are published in the coming years, it’s certainly a space to watch. Thank you to Dr Bright for shining a light on this topic.
Connect with Stephen Bright, PhD on LinkedIn and Twitter/X. Discover more of his work on Prism, Psychedelic Institute Australia (for healthcare practitioners), Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and AOD Media Watch.
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More about Stephen Bright, PhD
Stephen has worked as a psychologist within the Mental Health & AOD field for the past 15 years. He is currently Senior Lecturer of Addiction at Edith Cowan University. Stephen is a strong advocate of harm reduction and an evidence-based approach to AOD legislation. He is also interested in the role of certain substances (entheogens) to facilitate spiritual experiences, and their role in psychotherapy.
His PhD related to the public perceptions and media portrayal of AOD use and the implications of this for drug-related harm, including the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances. This has led to the development of a project that aims to make the Australian media more accountable when reporting on AOD issues: www.aodmediawatch.com.au
Stephen is a leading Australian voice on the role of drug policy on emerging drug trends such as synthetic cannabis and dark web marketplaces.
Supporting studies
- Therapeutic frameworks in integration sessions in substance-assisted psychotherapy: A systematised review • PMID: 38148518
- Sideffect GamePlan: Development of an alcohol and other drug serious game for high school students using a systematic and iterative user-centred game development framework DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107774
- Dosing and Therapeutic Conduct in Administration Sessions in Substance-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematized Review DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678231168516
- Community-led guerrilla drug checking in response to deaths from adulterated MDMA in Victoria, Australia DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/DHS-01-2022-0006
- Psychedelic Forum Member Preferences for Carer Experience and Consumption Behavior: Can “Trip Sitters” Help Inform Psychedelic Harm Reduction Services? DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509221121420
- Developing an alcohol and other drug serious game for adolescents: considerations for improving student engagement PUBMED: 35924894
- The Relationship Between Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experiences, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678221111024
- Behavior change techniques in physical activity interventions for adults with substance use disorders: A systematic review. • PMID: 35666890
- Sober sitter or coconsumer? Psychedelics, online forums and preferences for interpersonal interactions • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2065268
- Presence, Trust, and Empathy: Preferred Characteristics of Psychedelic Carers • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678221081380
- Therapeutic (Sub)stance: Current practice and therapeutic conduct in preparatory sessions in substance-assisted psychotherapy—A systematized review • PMID: 36263882
