Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that alter perception, mood, and cognition, and have been investigated for their therapeutic potential, particularly in mental health treatment. Within the effective altruism (EA) community, psychedelics have gained attention as a potentially high-impact intervention due to their promising results in treating mental health conditions, their possible role in improving human well-being, and their capacity to induce perspective-shifting experiences that may influence long-term altruistic behavior.

Research and Therapeutic Potential

Psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments involve the use of substances such as psilocybin or MDMA, often combined with psychotherapy. Clinical studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in treating conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and addiction. These treatments typically include preparatory sessions, supervised psychedelic experiences, and integration therapy. Results have shown large effect sizes and long-lasting symptom relief, particularly for treatment-resistant cases.

Key institutions leading this research include:

• The Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London
• The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University
• Usona Institute (psilocybin for depression)
• MAPS (MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD)

Strategic Considerations in EA

Proponents argue that psychedelics are compelling as an EA cause area for both short-termist and long-termist frameworks:

• Shorttermist: Mental health is a major contributor to the global disease burden. Psychedelic therapy may be significantly more effective than current treatments, with some interventions achieving cost-effectiveness comparable to top global health charities.
• Longtermist: Psychedelic experiences may increase altruistic motivation, improve psychological resilience, and help cultivate a better-informed, reflective, and compassionate population. These traits may make long-term outcomes more robust to “consequentialist cluelessness” — the difficulty of predicting far-future effects of present-day actions.

Philanthropy and Funding Landscape

Funding psychedelic research has historically been neglected due to stigma and regulatory barriers. However, a small group of private donors (e.g. Tim Ferriss, Open Philanthropy, Founders Pledge) has seeded a growing body of clinical and translational work. Notable philanthropic initiatives include:

• MAPS' Capstone Campaign to bring MDMA-assisted therapy through regulatory approval
• Usona Institute’s drug development for psilocybin
• Support for clinical infrastructure, public education, and policy reform

Criticism and Debate

Despite enthusiasm, some within EA remain skeptical. A prize-funded forum thread solicited arguments against psychedelics as an EA cause area, aiming to surface overlooked downsides. Key concerns include:

• Limited scalability and infrastructure for wide deployment
• Regulatory and reputational risk
• Potential for overhyped or placebo-driven outcomes
• Lack of robust evidence on long-term benefits outside controlled trials

Other Emerging Applications

Beyond depression and PTSD, psychedelics are being explored for:

• Addiction and chronic pain: Especially using ibogaine, which may reduce opioid tolerance and withdrawal risk
• Creativity and cognition: Anecdotal and experimental evidence suggests psychedelics might enhance problem-solving and insight
• Policy and culture: Advocacy is growing for decriminalization, research support, and new therapeutic models