Shroom Boom Considerations

In February 2022, an emergency registered nurse who worked a night shift in a Toronto, Ontario hospital was appalled at the overwhelming number of patients arriving at the emergency department with mental health issues. In recent times, the increase in the number of mental health patients arriving in the emergency department, especially with the novel COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the rise in mental health disorders, made the registered nurse aware of the need for effective strategies to address this issue. The growing interest and changing attitudes about psychedelic-assisted therapy was a potential treatment for mental health, which has the potential to disrupt the health care industry. From the beginnings of psychedelics use and research, starting with the creation of lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD) in 1938 and the experimentation with psychedelics during the Cold War, questions were raised about the use of psychedelics in therapy and the need for further research to fully understand their potential as a treatment option. Based on the growing interest and changing attitudes about psychedelics in psychotherapy, the potential benefits and challenges of this field raised important ethical considerations that needed to be discussed and examined.

This note assumes that students are familiar with the public perception of psychedelics. Students should also consider the dynamics and strategical challenges that can arise from fundamental changes in how mental health disorders are treated. The nature of the text in the note, and the assignment questions in this teaching note, make it suitable for any courses that focus on the health care industry or on emerging markets, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The primary objective of this note is to engage the class in a discussion on new advancements in health care, particularly in the psychedelic industry, for medicinal use. The note provides depth and breadth of an emerging industry and focuses on the multiple challenges psychedelics must encounter before they can become a mainstream treatment for mental illness. Students are asked to think strategically about the implications on society, considering the psychedelic nature of the drug. Students should also focus on the conceptual outcomes in terms of care delivery, legislation, and product or service innovation. After working through the note and assignment questions, students will be able to<ul><li>understand more closely this once neglected and misrepresented facet to mental health treatment;</li><li>comprehend the role of marketing for a product that has been negatively perceived; and</li><li>recognize the impact of both enablers and barriers to adopt psychedelic medication, given its renewed credibility in the mental health industry.</li></ul>

• healthcare, mental health,