One study, published in the journal Cell Report, found that psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity at the cellular level. Imaging of neurons after psychedelic therapy showed increased number and activity of synapses, or “connections”, between neurons. In a way, calling these parts of the brain “connections” is a bit of a misnomer, and we need to understand them in a bit more detail to appreciate the potential implications of these findings.
Unfortunately, the War on Drugs in America has created a lot of misinformation when it comes to psychedelics, particularly with regards to the “bad trip”. You may have heard rumors that even one experience with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can make you perpetually trip or insane. Scare tactics like these have been used over the past several decades to demonize psychedelics and deter their use.
Though these rumors are untrue, it is important to note that individuals predisposed to certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may have adverse effects from a psychedelic experience, including psychosis, and that proper mental health screening should be conducted before engaging in any psychedelic activity.
Psychedelics cause temporary psychological and physiological changes and these altered states can make you extremely vulnerable. Without proper support and harm reduction techniques, you may be exposing yourself to risks that could be easily prevented.