By AAMER MADHANI and JESSE BEDAYN | Associated Press
President Joe Biden’s youngest brother revealed intriguing insights in a recent radio interview, highlighting the president’s open-mindedness towards the potential medical benefits of psychedelics. Frank Biden, speaking on The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM, shared that he has engaged in conversations with his brother about the therapeutic applications of psychedelics. Frank Biden’s remarks came after the host interviewed a journalist from The Wall Street Journal who explored the belief among influential Silicon Valley figures that psychedelics can lead to breakthroughs in business.
When asked about his discussions with the president, Frank Biden emphasized Joe Biden’s open-mindedness, adding, “Put it that way. I don’t want to speak, I’m talking brother-to-brother. Brother-to-brother. The question is, is the world, is the U.S. ready for this? My opinion is that we are on the cusp of a consciousness that needs to be brought about to solve a lot of the problems in and around addiction, but as importantly, to make us aware of the fact that we’re all one people and we’ve got to come together.”
Frank Biden also noted that his personal experiences as a recovering alcoholic for many years have led him to conduct extensive research on the benefits of psychedelics.
Regarding official comments from the White House, no response has been provided at the time of this publication.
Psilocybin, the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, is believed by some researchers to alter the brain’s organization and aid in the treatment of conditions such as depression, alcoholism, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, the FDA has approved a ketamine-related drug to assist individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
However, medical experts caution that further research is required to fully understand the efficacy and risks associated with psychedelics, as they can induce hallucinations.
The American Psychiatric Association has not yet endorsed the use of psychedelics as a treatment, highlighting that the FDA has not made a final determination on the matter. In 2018, the FDA classified psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy,” expediting the development and evaluation of drugs for serious conditions. MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, also holds such a designation for PTSD treatment.
Last week, the FDA released draft guidance for clinical trial researchers exploring the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs. The Biden administration has also allocated funding to the National Institutes of Health and other agencies for numerous projects focused on studying the mental and behavioral health benefits of psychedelics.
A milestone in the legalization of psilocybin was achieved earlier this year when Oregon became the first state to allow adult use of the substance. Furthermore, Colorado voters made the decision to decriminalize psilocybin in the previous year.
Even Republican strongholds such as Utah and Missouri are considering commissioning studies on psychedelics, largely influenced by veterans who have reported positive outcomes in using psilocybin as a treatment for PTSD.
Former Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry, speaking at a recent conference in Colorado, advocated for the passing of a bill in the Texas legislature in 2021 to fund a study on psilocybin’s potential benefits for veterans. However, Perry does not support recreational use of the substance.
In an unexpected alignment, progressive Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and far-right Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida have both shown support for proposals focused on providing psychedelic treatments to veterans.
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