Researchers are seeking molecules that preserve psilocybin’s durable antidepressant benefits while minimizing or eliminating the acute hallucinatory experience by targeting receptors other than 5‑HT2A. If successful, such drugs could broaden access, reduce the need for supervised psychedelic sessions, and lower the risk of precipitating psychosis in vulnerable people.
— This reframes the psychedelics debate from ‘legalize or not’ and ‘mystical experience necessary or incidental’ to concrete pharmacology, clinical‑trial design, safety policy, and health‑care access questions that regulators and health systems must address.
Kristen French
2026.01.16
100% relevant
Dartmouth team’s Molecular Psychiatry study identifying alternative neural receptor targets for psilocybin’s therapeutic effects (article author Sixtine Fleury and quote about searching beyond 5‑HT2A).
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