Johns Hopkins Medicine Receives First Federal Grant for Psychedelic Treatment Research in 50 years
Johns Hopkins CPCR Researcher, Dr. Matthew Johnson was awarded the first NIH grant in over half a century to directly study the therapeutic effects of a classic psychedelic. “The historical importance of this grant is monumental,” says principal investigator Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., “We knew it was only a matter of time before the NIH would fund this work because the data are so compelling, and because this work has demonstrated to be safe. Psilocybin does have very real risks, but these risks are squarely mitigated in controlled settings through screening, preparation, monitoring and follow-up care.” Johns Hopkins Medicine will lead the multisite trial investigating the potential impacts of psilocybin on tobacco addiction, along with collaborators University of Alabama at Birmingham and New York University. 

Magic Mushrooms May Be the Biggest Advance in Treating Depression Since Prozac
Newsweek Magazine details the transformative experience of a participant from a CPCR study of psilocybin in major depressive disorder. This experience demonstrated the potential of psilocybin to help those with depression. Dr. Matthew Johnson describes how psychedelics seem to help with depression. Mary Cosimano also adds that post-session protocol is just as important as it facilitates reflection of the experiences and integration of insights. 

Huberman Lab Podcast with Dr. Matthew Johnson: Psychedelic Medicine
In this episode of Dr. Huberman’s Podcast, Dr. Matthew Johnson discusses the potential medical uses of psychedelic substances and current or potential clinical trials investigating these uses. Dr. Johnson also describes what a typical experiment looks like in his lab and what conditions lead to ideal outcomes. The pair also discuss the current industrial and legal landscape of psychedelics.

How Science Is Making Sense Of The Mystical Experience In Psychedelic Medicine | Is Mysticism Becoming A Problem For Psychedelic Medicine?
In a two-part series, Forbes interviews Drs. Albert Garcia-Romeu and Matthew Johnson to explore the role of mystical experiences in psychedelic medicine. Dr. Garcia-Romeu discusses the scientific value of studying mystical experiences, and although they are not required for people to form new insights and make progress, mystical experiences produced by psychedelics are linked to benefits in people with depression, cancer, and substance use disorders. There may be immense potential of mysticism in psychedelic treatment if it can be properly understood and utilized. While there is debate on the measurement of mystical experiences, Dr. Johnson urges scientists and clinicians to be mindful of their own religious or spiritual beliefs and to refrain from imposing those beliefs onto their own practice.

The worldview-changing drugs poised to go mainstream
BBC Future writes about historical use of psychedelics in the U.S. and the imprint psychedelics left on broader American culture. Fast-forward to the present and psychedelic research is experiencing a resurgence, private clinics are opening around the world, and the cultural shifts are looking different this time. Dr. Roland Griffiths and Dr. Matthew Johnson were interviewed about their research. They discuss the personal meaning people have gleaned from psychedelic experiences and the implications of mystical experiences.

Could mushrooms, molly and acid be the new wave of mental health care?
In an interview with NBC News, Dr. Johnson discusses how psychedelic-assisted therapy differs from conventional psychiatric treatment. A Johns Hopkins study participant also comments on their experience in a psychedelic study.

Christina Haack says smoking 'milk' from a Bufo toad lowered her anxiety and 'reset' her brain. Experts warn against trying the psychedelic trend
Yahoo! Life interviews Dr. Davis on the potential effects of smoking the potent psychedelic substance, 5-MeO-DMT. Davis also warns of the ethical and environmental risks of milking Bufo toads for their secretions that contain 5-MeO-DMT.

Characters on Nine Perfect Strangers Are Microdosing Psilocybin for Their Health — but Does It Work?
People Magazine discusses the entry of psilocybin into the mainstream, such as the use of microdoses in the show Nine Perfect Strangers. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu details the progression and findings of psilocybin research that suggest therapeutic potential. 

Psilocybin therapy boosts cognitive and neural flexibility in depressed patients, study finds
PsyPost interviews Dr. Manoj Doss to discuss the results of a recent study that found increased cognitive and neural flexibility due to psilocybin. The study aimed to examine mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Researchers found that neural flexibility appears to support cognitive flexibility up to a certain point, and that too much neural flexibility was associated with less improvements in cognitive flexibility and therefore may not be as beneficial. The study reveals potential mechanisms that might be involved and highlights a nuanced relationship between neural flexibility and cognitive flexibility. Doss concludes the interview by commenting on the current limitations of psychedelic research. 

Could so-called 'magic mushrooms' be a magic bullet for depression?
WBALTV11 talks with Dr. Natalie Gukasyan about how psilocybin can help people with depression. Gukasyan also hints at the results of an upcoming 1-year follow-up study in participants with major depressive disorder.

The False Promise of Psychedelic Utopia
In an interview with Vice, Dr. Yaden dismantles the notion that widespread psychedelic use will change the world for better. Yaden comments on the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy but also asserts that psychedelics alone will not solve complex, systemic issues. “I think any utopian pronouncements about psychedelics—that psychedelics can somehow save the world from these environmental and humanitarian issues—sound extremely naive at best and trivializing of the enormous complexity and urgency of these issues at worst. I don't think that we should be looking to psychedelics to address these issues.”

Yale researchers discover healing effects of psychedelic drug
Drs. Manoj Doss and Albert Garcia-Romeu comment on a recent study at Yale University that demonstrated therapeutic properties of psilocybin for depression and associated symptoms in mice. The study found structural changes in the brain of mice that counteract symptoms of depression, and various risks and precautions must be considered if extending this research to humans.

Psilocybin Mushrooms and America's Great Psychedelic Awakening
Northspore interviewed Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu to walk us through the typical procedure for psilocybin therapy, explain the benefits from this treatment, and discuss safety precautions when taking psilocybin. He also discusses the current laws around psilocybin and what the future may look like. 

New Study Hopes to Prove that Breathwork Therapy can Treat PTSD in Veterans
In an interview with Johns Hopkins Magazine, Dr. Matthew Johnson describes the therapeutic potential of Holotropic Breathwork, and discusses an upcoming study at the CPCR that will investigate the impact of Holotropic Breathwork for veterans with PTSD. Holotropic Breathwork was developed by Drs. Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof after psychedelics were made illegal as a way to achieve altered states of consciousness without breaking the law. The study at Johns Hopkins will be the first of its kind, and if Holotropic Breathwork is shown to be effective, the approach could theoretically be implemented quickly.

As psychedelics are integrated into mainstream medicine, experts weigh the benefits and costs of solo versus group therapy.
This article highlights the importance in pairing therapy with psychedelic administration and discusses the various therapeutic approaches that have been used. Dr. Griffiths comments on why he decided to go with solo therapy vs group therapy for the study on anxiety in patients with terminal cancer.

The science of psychedelic therapy breaks on through
Axios interviews Dr. Matthew Johnson to explore the significance of the recent federal grant by the National Institute of Health to study psilocybin therapy to help people quit smoking. The article covers: Why it matters, where it stands, and some potential challenges.

Plant Medicine Podcast with Dr. Matthew Johnson 
In a trilogy of episodes, Dr. Matthew Johnson talks with Plant Medicine Podcast about the promising results of a recent randomized clinical trial on psilocybin treatment for depression, findings of survey research on DMT, and concerns for psychedelic medicine practices. 

‘At one with the universe’: How can psychedelic drugs help treat suffering?
The Sydney Morning Herald provides an overview of the history of psychedelic research, including the recent rise in popularity. The CPCR and its findings for the effects of psilocybin on depression and anxiety in cancer patients, major depressive disorder, and smoking cessation are highlighted. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu comments on the meaningful experiences of a past participant and the realities of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, such as future implementation and treatment considerations. 

Psilocybin on the Psyche
Dr. Johnson served as an expert interviewer for Paul Stamets. During this interview, they discuss non-traditional scientific paths, micro vs heroic dosing, and the role of science fiction in science.

The Legacy Of Dr. Aaron Beck, Father Of Cognitive Therapy, Lives On In Psychedelic Medicine
Benzinga reports on the death of Dr. Aaron Beck, the father of cognitive therapy, and discusses how Beck’s contributions have influenced psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Friedman-Wheeler, who previously worked with Dr. Beck, comments on his death and how his teachings stick with her as she continues her career in psychedelic science.

Psychedelics in Medicine: Where We Are, Where We're Going
In an interview with Doximity, Dr. Gukasyan discusses the differences between traditional therapy and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and calls attention to the lack of representation of people of color and other underrepresented groups in psychedelic studies.