Ever think about studying psychedelics? Well, now you can, because the California Institute of Integral Studies is offering the first accredited bachelor's degree of its kind in the United States.
Nick Walker, a professor of psychology at CIIS, explained the new program on KCBS Radio the Bay Area, saying a lot of people are interested in psychedelics as an area of study. He described the current situation as a psychotherapy renaissance where people are eager to test the use of drugs that act as a hallucinogenic.
"There's a lot of very exciting psychedelic research in terms of its potential as a PTSD treatment, for instance. there's a lot of work happening with psychedelics, and we think it's very important that people approach it in a scientific fashion, in a well-informed fashion, in an ethically informed fashion.
"Because you know when something like this when there's a big boom in something like psychedelics, some exciting method of treatment and exploration and personal growth, it can be kind of a Wild West scenario, with people experimenting wildly."
Psychadelics have gotten a lot of attention in popular culture recently, with claims they can assist people in the throes of a deep depression, help veterans and trauma survivors. A 2023 study by the National Institute of Health said PTSD currently affects an estimated 12 million U.S. adults and "initial clinical trials have demonstrated the potential value of psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat PTSD and other psychiatric disorders."
MDMA -- commonly known on the street as 'ecstasy' -- is a particular focus of study. So is Psilocybin, known as 'magic mushrooms.' And both are illegal, classified on the same governmental schedule as heroin.
Walker made it clear students in the undergraduate program will study the effects and research around psychedelics. But they won't consume them.
"Absolutely no -- We are we are not not using psychedelics in the program this is purely we are studying the neuroscience of psychedelics we're studying the applications of psychedelic but absolutely no no hands-on work with psychedelics in the program."