The University of Calgary is about to start a major study on psilocybin-assisted therapy for the treatment of alcoholism. British Columbia’s Filament Health Corp. (OTCQB: FLHLF) will provide magic mushroom extract needed for the research.
The institution said this week that it will recruit 128 people suffering from alcohol use disorder. They will receive therapy sessions from a designated provider before and after taking psilocybin. The study will be supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research: a federal agency that invested over C$2.75 million toward psilocybin studies last June.
“Our study will help determine whether psilocybin combined with motivational enhancement therapy is a clinically feasible treatment for alcohol use disorder,” Leah Mayo, principal investigator, said. She emphasized the importance of obtaining scientific evidence on the potential efficacy of the alternative treatment method.
Mayo currently serves as the Parker Chair in Psychedelics at the university’s Cumming School of Medicine. The position was named after U of C graduate Jim Parker, who donated C$3 million to the school in 2021. She is also a scientific advisor for the MDMA producer PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA) and clinical advisor for the Veterans psychedelics advocacy organization Heroic Hearts Canada.
“The research that Dr. Mayo will be leading is key to realizing the enormous potential of psychedelics to alleviate suffering,” Parker said three years ago.
Mayo will be assisted by psychologist David Hodgins. He will be in charge of training the therapists.
“It’s important to collect solid and rigorous information on the use of psychedelic therapy,” he said. “Alcohol use disorder is complex, there isn’t one magic bullet that will be helpful for everyone.”
Dr. Leah Mayo, PhD, and Dr. David Hodgins, PhD, are investigating the potential of psychedelics combined with therapy to help individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder.
Learn more: https://t.co/WotG1PtAde@UCalgaryMed @HotchkissBrain @MayoOnTheBrain pic.twitter.com/hB5vK3iel1
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Those interested in participating asked to inquire
If you live in the Calgary area, struggle with alcohol and are interested in participating in the trial, the university encourages you to send an email to pactlab@ucalgary.ca.
Clinical trials, Health Canada’s Special Access Program and a Section 56 exemption are currently the only means of legally accessing psilocybin mushrooms in Canada.
In an interview with the CBC, Mayo stressed that taking the drug in conjunction with therapy is very important for optimal results. She says the setting psilocybin is taken in and the mindset of the individual when they take it are also crucial factors.
Filament has supplied its psilocybin drug PEX010 for clinical studies in Belgium, Israel, the United States and Canada.
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