I’ve never been very experimental with drugs. I tried mushrooms in “college,” and enjoyed them enough to know I shouldn’t try them again. Aside from that eight-hour trip, I’ve stuck to enjoying THC and THC-related products. I’ve also never been too interested in therapy. Mainly because I don’t want it, but if someday I do, I won’t deny that impulse. All this to say, I usually cock an eyebrow when discussing Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. John Oliver definitely lowered my eyebrow a bit.

In the first show of his tenth season, Oliver dove deep into the PAT topic. The purpose of the segment was to remove some of the stigmas surrounding the treatment. Stigmas I have, admittedly, been guilty of perpetuating myself. Microdosing has shown great benefits in therapy, despite attempts by the government to bury that information over the years. Psychedelic treatments have also been shown to help ease the effects of PTSD and even alcoholism!

When the idea has been pitched to me, specifically for a family member who suffers from depression, my pushback was born out of how the PAT is administered. As should be expected, it is not a “take this and see what happens” type of scenario. PAT needs to be administered with two people present to guide the patient through the experience. I can also say, from personal experience, that it is very expensive.

There’s also the fact that drugs affect everyone differently. As mentioned in Oliver’s segment, one expert reveals that, while taking PAT, there is the possibility of having a bad trip. You can find yourself in your own personal hell. However, people who have had such experiences have still benefitted from the treatment! PAT may not be for everyone, but it should be studied. If it could benefit a great number of people, it’s worth the side effects.