How Do Pro Athletes Feel About Psychedelic Therapy?
Professional athletes are more open to receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy nowadays, according to the latest study.
Athletes often sustain concussions and as a result may suffer other related symptoms such as depression, anxiety and impaired memory. According to a study published in the Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology journal, 6 out of 10 athletes are open to using psychedelic-assisted therapy to manage their post-concussion symptoms.
Similarly, 7 out of 10 sports staff, including coaches and physical therapists are also in favor of their athletes using psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The study which was conducted via survey amongst 175 participants from the United States and Canada also discovered that although regular use was quite low (7.5%), psychedelics was the most used substance (35.8%) among athletes.
Why are professional athletes turning to psychedelic-assisted therapy?
Sports-related concussions (SRC) are unfortunately a common occurrence amongst athletes. About 3.8 million athletes in the United States suffer from mild traumatic brain injury every year. In 2021, there were almost 2000 emergency visits for sports-related brain injuries in Canada.
While most athletes recover fully from their injuries within 7-10 days, some 10-30% of athletes will experience post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) which affects their everyday lives. This includes but is not limited to mood dysregulation. Physiological symptoms encompass headaches, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and noise.
Daniel Carcillo, a former professional hockey player, had a successful career playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. But by age 31, he had accumulated 7 diagnosed concussions that left him suicidal.
Carcillo said he suffered from insomnia and disrupted sleep, intentionally going to bed at 4 or 5am to avoid the sun and any social interaction. His depression, anxiety and headaches left him unable to parent his children or even spend time with them.
“Your impulse control is off,” he explained. “It would be miserable … Eventually, I would just go inside.”
Before discovering psilocybin he had spent ‘over $500,000 on prescription medications and treatments at stroke rehabilitation centers, brain centers, and concussion centers, as well as holistic therapies.’
However despite research evidence and growing legalization of psychedelic-assisted therapy programs, there is still hesitation about the long-term impact of psychedelic use.
