Publishers Weekly
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New York Times correspondent Londoño debuts with an arresting survey of the “medicinal psychedelic field” and where it’s headed. Used by Indigenous communities for generations, magic mushrooms, LSD, and other psychedelics have gained popularity in recent years as those who’ve lost faith in “conventional medicine” flock to the “largely unregulated field,” enticed by questionable purveyors of these drugs and resorts that market to the wealthy via “C-list celebrities, bro-ey podcasters, and #blessed Instagram influencers.” Despite legal risks and such side effects as vomiting and paranoia, psychedelics represent a promising frontier of mental illness treatment: MDMA and psilocybin (the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms) have been designated by the FDA as “breakthrough therapies” for PTSD and severe depression; both are expected to gain approval for mainstream clinical use in 2024. Woven through Londoño’s research are vivid, sometimes hypnotic discussions of his own mental health struggles, which reached a peak when he “unraveled” in 2017 and led him to seek relief in ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew made from botanical ingredients (“Each trip seemed to add clarity to my personal narrative, like a puzzle that gradually starts resembling a landscape.... The implicit deal you make on this path is to... lean heavily into your darkness in order to metabolize pain”). Ultimately, Londoño argues that “with proper safeguards, psychoactive compounds have the potential to reduce suffering on a large scale.” It’s a scrupulous study of a fascinating development in mental health care. (May)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Psychedelic drugs are poised for prime time. MDMA (for PTSD) and psilocybin (for treatment-resistant depression or for palliative care) are likely to receive FDA approval soon. Londoño, a reporter for The New York Times, writes candidly about his own emotional and psychological struggles and how conventional mental health treatment was unsuccessful in making him feel better. His personal quest for well-being is combined with journalistic investigation into the possible benefits of psychedelic substances as therapies for various types of mental illness. Londoño participated in an ayahuasca retreat where he relived vivid memories. He's been given ketamine at a San Diego clinic. He's spoken with scientific experts, recipients of psychedelics, and entrepreneurs who provide these drugs to people. Londoño spotlights "churches" that feature ayahuasca as a "sacrament," jungle ceremonies, and a VA hospital in California administering MDMA to veterans suffering from PTSD. He takes notice of the altered states of mind, advantages, side effects, and sometimes disturbing power relationships associated with these psychoactive substances. Individuals dealing with certain mental health conditions may be able to seek guidance for a "trip" to recovery in the very near future.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A look at how old drugs are finding a new role in easing mental suffering. New York Times journalist Londoño’s first book involves his experiences with psychedelic drugs, which he first encountered as a relief from crushing suicidal depression. His early searches led him to several clinics in South America that offered plant-based psychedelics like ayahuasca, which had a long history of effective use among Indigenous tribes. The drug helped the author move past his mental problems, but as he investigated further, he found that many of the treatments seemed like dangerous quackery, and they all came with a hefty price tag. After his return to the U.S., Londoño continued to explore the use of psychedelics as therapy. Some of the people dispensing the drugs genuinely wanted to help trauma victims, especially veterans suffering from PTSD, but others were charlatans. His research led him to medical professionals who had gained official permission to use drugs like ecstasy and psilocybin on an experimental basis. Some results have proved positive, and brain scans indicate that psychedelics can help repair damaged neural connections. Londoño believes that eventually the regulatory authorities will legalize therapeutic psychedelics, but he recognizes the many possibilities for things to go wrong. “When administered by a steady, wise guide, in a safe setting, I have seen psychedelics transform lives, including my own,” he writes. However, he notes, “in the wrong hands, they can be as dangerous as a drunk surgeon with a trembling hand.” This is intriguing material, but Londoño often wanders away from his theme. Several chapters, such as those dealing with his family history, don’t connect strongly enough with the primary material. Nevertheless, the subject of psychedelics is engaging, especially for readers interested in emerging therapies. Blending solid research and personal experience, the author points to a new frontier for trauma treatment. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.