Rachel Carlson

Yeah. But other researchers say while all those factors might be important, not everyone can or wants to take psychedelic drugs. Here's one of those researchers, David Olson.

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.

That is the question. We're talking about what could be next for psychedelic medicine. I'm Rachel Carlson.

That is the question. We're talking about what could be next for psychedelic medicine. I'm Rachel Carlson.

That is the question. We're talking about what could be next for psychedelic medicine. I'm Rachel Carlson.

Yeah, Gina, first we have to understand what people think drugs like psychedelics and ketamine even do in the brain. Yeah. So I want you to picture the neurons in the human brain as one big tree. Okay, I'm closing my eyes. I'm doing it. The neurons have something called dendrites. Those are like the branches of the tree. Okay. And then those branches have these tiny nubs called dendritic spines.