A Public-Health-Based Vision for the Management and Regulation of Psychedelics

J Psychoactive Drugs. 2016 Sep-Oct;48(4):243-52. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2016.1202459. Epub 2016 Jul 18.

Abstract

The Health Officers Council of British Columbia has proposed post-prohibition regulatory models for currently illegal drugs based on public health principles, and this article continues this work by proposing a model for the regulation and management of psychedelics. This article outlines recent research on psychedelic substances and the key determinants of benefit and harm from their use. It then describes a public-health-based model for the regulation of psychedelics, which includes governance, supervision, set and setting controls, youth access, supply control, demand limitation, and evaluation.

Keywords: Drug policy; drug regulation; psychedelic; psychoactive; public health.

MeSH terms

  • British Columbia
  • Government Regulation
  • Hallucinogens / administration & dosage
  • Hallucinogens / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / adverse effects
  • Illicit Drugs / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Legislation, Drug
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Public Health
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Hallucinogens
  • Illicit Drugs