![\"Psilocybe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4NBK0QL_image_crop_80654.jpeg\")
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\nPsilocybe Cubensis, a species of psychedelic mushroom
\nPhoto: Flickr user afgooey74 \/ CC BY 2.0\n<\/p>\n
Psychedelic drugs, including LSD and magic mushrooms, could help people cope with having a life-threatening illness, an expert in psychological medicines says.<\/p>\n
A study involving 93 palliative care doctors in New Zealand and Australia has found strong support for more research into psychedelic medicines being used to treat palliative patients.<\/p>\n
It showed cautious optimism among palliative doctors around the use of psychedelics, whilst recognising the importance of innovative, patient-centred care.<\/p>\n
Research was already being done on the use of MDMA for the treatment of people with terminal cancer.<\/p>\n
Auckland University associate professor David Menkes told RNZ the trials were showing positive signs.<\/p>\n
“That’s provided a real strong hint that MDMA can be spectacularly helpful for some individuals who are facing death from cancer,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That’s a big deal because, you know, those people really they’re up against it. And so anything we can do to make their journey more manageable and tolerable is all to the good.”<\/p>\n
Seventy-five percent of participants respondents disagreed that psychedelics were unsafe and should be prohibited for medical use, while 88 percent agreed clinical use for palliative patients warranted further investigation.<\/p>\n
Younger respondents were more likely than their older peers to believe psychedelics may improve clinical outcomes.<\/p>\n
Menkes said the use of a psychedelics for treatment could eventually be an alternative for people considering assisted dying.<\/p>\n
“We think this may actually reduce the numbers of people who go ahead and have medically assisted dying, which for many people would be considered a good outcome,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We have this law in New Zealand now that people can make that informed choice, right, at the end of life. But if they’re doing that because they just find their situation intolerable and they can be relieved of that burden in some other way, then it’s quite possible that they will elect to do that. And then have, perhaps, a few more months to share with family or to do what they need to feel ready to sign off.”<\/p>\n