What research doesn’t tell us about older psychedelic users

This interesting Lucid News article comments: "If you were 20 years old during the Summer of Love in 1967, you’re about 75 today. And if you’re using psychedelics, current research doesn’t know much about the special risks and rewards for your generation, according to several scientific experts.

Beckley Foundation Prioritizes Healthy Aging

Amanda Feilding was first introduced to LSD in the mid-1960s, in the first wave of scientific research into psychedelics. 

Almost six decades later, the Beckley Foundation she founded advocates for research into psychoactive substances and drug policy reform. Healthy aging is one of the Beckley Foundation’s new research programs, along with mental health, and spirituality and wellbeing.

“The vast majority of psychedelic studies to date have mainly examined their effects on younger people, which means specific research will need to be carried out to ensure their safety in older populations,” Feilding said via email. 

“It’s important to do this for a number of reasons. For one, the psychedelics may have different effects on these people,” she said. “We know, for example, that psychedelics affect heart rate and blood pressure.… This is unlikely to be a concern in young people, or with infrequent full doses. However, concerns have been raised over the potential of frequent microdosing to lead to heart problems, and this could be of particular concern in older people.”

“In addition, older people may be already taking a number of prescribed medications for ailments. It’s important that we examine the way psychedelics might interact with these medications,” Feilding added.

Feilding, however, doesn’t just want data on whether psychedelics are safe for her and her generation. She wants to understand how they can help people age better. 

For more psychedelic news and research, visit the psychedelic health professional network homepage.