NZ Approves Psilocybin for Severe Depression Treatment

New Zealand has approved the medicinal use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Only psychiatrists with clinical trial experience, such as Professor Cameron Lacey, are permitted to prescribe psilocybin under strict reporting and regulatory requirements. The move is hailed as a breakthrough for individuals with severe depression who have not benefited from other treatments. This decision aligns New Zealand with Australia, Switzerland, and certain regions in Canada and the US, where regulated medical use of psilocybin and related substances is permitted. Officials stress that psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine and its use will be tightly controlled. The policy reflects increasing recognition of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in addressing mental health challenges.