Re:Messages that can only be understood under the influence ...
by rvcdbn on Tuesday June 06, 2023 @12:44PM
(#36215550)
What you seem to be after is scientific evidence. The problem is that these substances by nature cannot be double-blind trialed because blinding is impossible. So as individuals we all need to make a decision whether we would like to try them or not for ourselves and the best evidence we can ever hope to get is subjective and anecdotal. If you want to deny yourself the potential of these life changing experiences without scientific evidence then that’s your choice. In my opinion it’s your great loss too.
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Re:Messages that can only be understood under the influence ...
by MayeulC on Tuesday June 06, 2023 @01:20PM
(#36216087)
> these substances by nature cannot be double-blind trialed because blinding is impossible
That's a bold claim. You can try multiple different substances, the test subjects know they ingest a psychedelic, but don't know which, which allows you to have a control group.
Clinical trials would face other issues, but not this one.
Re:Messages that can only be understood under the influence ...
by p_j_w on Tuesday June 06, 2023 @02:22PM
(#36217004)
You run into another problem here: those other psychedelics may also cause the same changes.
Re:Messages that can only be understood under the influence ...
by kadoban on Tuesday June 06, 2023 @02:48PM
(#36217342)
It still might be worth trying though, if it can be done ethically. It's not a perfect test, but it's halfway decent?
Re:Messages that can only be understood under the influence ...
by rvcdbn on Tuesday June 06, 2023 @04:46PM
(#36218888)
i think it would be super interesting to do a study where we compared the effects of moderate/high-dose psychedelics to some other substance that had comparable subjective effects. but (a) i don't think such a control substance actually exists
and (b) i strongly suspect that you'd see the same benefits to both groups - and then what conclusion do you draw from that?