Aussies opt for psychedelics help
AUSTRALIANS are self-treating mental health issues and emotional distress with psychedelic drugs such as MDMA and magic mushrooms, a major global survey has found.
The findings have pushed experts to questions if psychologists can play a bigger part in supporting those who are going against the Therapeutic Goods Adminstration and illegally accessing the therapy.
The Global Drug Survey colead researcher Dr Monica Barratt of RMIT University said of the 6500 people worldwide who used psychedelics for mental health, about 10 per cent were Australians. And an overwhelming 64 per cent of those were men, with the median age being 20.
Therapeutic drug use was most common in Australian cities, with 69 per cent of responders from metro areas, while a quarter were from regional areas.
Psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin, which is found in magic mushrooms, help break down the mind’s defence barriers, allowing trauma survivors to see their past more clearly and process it.
WASHINGTON: Washington’s security posture has been bolstered after threats of a possible “breach” on Thursday of the US Capitol, with the House of Representatives changing its voting plans to avoid gathering members on a day of potential unrest.
The warning was relayed on Wednesday by US Capitol police, who said it was prompted by intelligence about an unnamed militia group.
It follows online chatter from conspiracy-embracing extremists who believe March 4 is the day former president Donald Trump will return to Washington to be inaugurated for a second term.
The threat comes nearly two months after Trump supporters, including Qanon followers, stormed the Capitol building and laid siege to Congress, in an attack that left five people dead.
Some followers of the Qanon conspiracy theory believe Mr Trump was cheated out of a second term and that Thursday will mark his victorious return to power to confront a secret global cabal of Satanist liberals.
“We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group,” police said.
“We have already made significant security upgrades to include establishing a physical structure and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police officers.”