#67 Just Up the Dose?: Therapy Cults are Influencing Psychedelic Medicine Standards
The Psymposia PodcastShow Notes
It has become a problematic standard practice in the psychedelic therapy industry to increase drug dosages after patients display red flag symptoms. Psymposia discusses a recent Wall Street Journal article about these practices as they manifest in the ketamine industry; the psychedelic industry's historic normalization of these practices; and recent attempts to convince lawmakers to protect psychedelic providers from liability for standard forms of medical malpractice. Together, these developments highlight why allowing a therapy cult to influence the norms of psychedelic medicine puts the public at risk. Footnotes: She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn't Live to See It Work. (WSJ): Live link: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/ketamine-telehealth-dangers-4a7bc8da Archive link: https://archive.is/qLxwO The Psychedelic Syndicate (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/psychedelic-syndicate-executive-summary-silicon-valley-maps-lykos-mdma-fda-billionaires/ Hamilton's Pharma Cope Series (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/hamiltons-pharma-cope/ Colorado has a chance to get ibogaine policy right (Colorado Newsline): https://coloradonewsline.com/2026/02/17/colorado-get-ibogaine-policy-right/
More from The Psymposia Podcast
Normie, Mike, and Neşe discuss the upcoming MAHA Summit and its psychedelic pharmaceutical sponsors.
The crew discusses the FDA's September 14 psychedelic hearing, including Neşe's experience being in attendance, the financial conflicts of interest at the event, and the pseudoscientific beliefs of practitioners who gave testimony. Footnotes: Submit written comment to the FDA by October 5, 2026 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/14/2026-14155/considerations-for-potential-future-therapeutic-use-of-psychedelic-drugs-public-hearing-request-for
Psymposia dives into the recent Rolling Stone article — "Reggie Watts Is a Prominent Ketamine Advocate. Was It His Ex's 'Undoing'?" — and explores how the dynamics at play in that article are pervasive within the psychedelic advocacy scene. Footnotes: Reggie Watts Is a Prominent Ketamine Advocate. Was It His Ex's 'Undoing'? (Rolling Stone): https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/reggie-watts-ketamine-drug-advocate-1235607828/ Ending The Silence Around Psychedelic Therapy Abuse (Mad In America): https://www.madinamerica.com/2021/09/ending-silence-psychedelic-therapy-abuse/ Cover Story: Power Trip (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/powertrip-2/ The Psychedelic Syndicate (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/psychedelic-syndicate-executive-summary-silicon-valley-maps-lykos-mdma-fda-billionaires/index.html
Psymposia interviews YouTube documentarian @Alex-Novell about his experience with Andrew Callaghan and Channel 5, drug legalization, and creating documentary films. Thumbnail terminator image provided by Alex Novell.
Psymposia discusses takeaways from their "Psychedelic Conversion Therapy" series and reflects on the ten year anniversary of their "Coming Out of the Psychedelic Closet" series.