Between Promises and Barriers: The Journey of Psychedelics Towards Mental Health

The world is experiencing a new therapeutic spring. With a global market that already moves billions and research pointing to previously unimaginable results, psychedelic medicine emerges as one of the most promising fields in contemporary mental health. 

Psilocybin, ketamine, ibogaine, DMT are some names that until recently were restricted to niche conversations, now occupy space in medical conferences and weighty scientific articles.

But in Brazil, this revolution walks on uneven ground. Cutting-edge scientific advances coexist with a regulatory limbo that leaves doctors, patients, and investors navigating blindly and often only supported by the judiciary. It's a paradox: while Brazilian laboratories and universities are among the most innovative in the world, legislation still moves at a slow pace.

2025: Where Do We Stand?

Experts believe that 2025 will be a turning point. Even after the historic setback of the FDA in 2024, which temporarily dampened global enthusiasm for MDMA, the agenda remains alive and vibrant in this second semester.  Studies on psychedelic medicine are advancing strongly, seeking not only to prove efficacy but also to create integrative protocols that combine science and human care.

In Brazil, Unifesp leads pioneering fronts, such as short-duration intravenous DMT microdosing, which opens doors to accessible outpatient treatments. Abroad, institutions like Johns Hopkins and MAPS present results that are almost historic: significant remission of treatment-resistant depression and PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with psychedelic-assisted approaches.

Brazil as a Powerhouse, if it wants to be

With about 12 million people living with depression, according to the WHO, Brazil is a weighty clinical market. More than just numbers, we have something unique: cultural diversity and ancestral knowledge, offering the rare chance to unite cutting-edge innovation with ancient traditions. 

Researchers already argue that this integration should be done with respect and protagonism, creating protocols that value both science and indigenous and Amazonian roots.

Meanwhile, substances like psilocybin remain restricted, and institutions like the Phaneros Institute still battle in court to conduct research. 

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