Peter Hendricks, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Health Behavior in the UAB School of Public Health is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of a new journal focused on psychedelics as medicines. The journal, Psychedelic Medicine, is the first peer-reviewed journal to publish original research papers on every aspect of psychedelic medicine including basic science, clinical, and translational research. The journal is published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and released its first issue on Tuesday, March 13th, 2023.
Hendricks and co-editor-in-chief Charles Nichols, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology at Louisiana State University’s School of Medicine, first met in-person in 2015, a time when they describe psychedelic medicine as “still very much on the outskirts of mainstream academia.” One collective journal dedicated to the “rigorous empirical investigation of psychedelics as therapeutics,” said the editors, was lacking. “Despite our obvious optimism around the promise of psychedelics as medicines, we emphasized the importance of the pursuit of truth—a commitment to the notion that facts are stubborn things, the dispassionate scientific process, and going wherever the data may lead, including to the conclusion that psychedelics may be effective in some circumstances, but not in others,” said Hendricks and Nichols.
The premiere issue of Psychedelic Medicine featured five original research studies from authors across the United States, an expert roundtable covering past, present, and future of psychedelics, then a impactful consensus statement on defining psychedelic drugs. Rounding out the front matter and editorial section is an opinion outlining the need for doctors and practitioners to be proactive in getting insurance codes for billing established.
Hendricks has studied psychedelics for years and has extensive experience in studying psilocybin and addiction treatment research. He is also known for his research in tobacco and smoking cessation.
About the Journal
Psychedelic Medicine provides a vital resource for clinicians and patients alike who are invested in the potential efficacy of psychedelic drugs currently undergoing research in preclinical and clinical studies as an alternative or supplement to traditionally manufactured pharmaceuticals to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, demoralization, and other mental health conditions. Visit the Psychedelic Medicine website to learn more.