Cmaj Podcasts

Send us a textA research article in CMAJ examines mortality risk among people hospitalized for hallucinogen use. The study found that individuals who required acute hospital care for hallucinogen-related issues had a nearly fivefold increase in mortality risk compared to the general population.Dr. Daniel Myran, a public health and preventive medicine physician, family physician, and researcher at the University of Ottawa, discusses the study’s findings and why the growing perception of psychedelics as therapeutic may be influencing increased use. He explains how individuals hospitalized for hallucinogen-related issues often have additional risk factors, including other substance use and underlying health conditions, which may contribute to their elevated mortality risk.Dr. Ishrat Husain, a senior scientist and the scientific head of the clinical trials unit at CAMH in Toronto, explores the controlled medical use of hallucinogens in treatment-resistant depression. He outlines the intensive screening and psycho