Episode 21
This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Dr. Johnathan Edwards, an anesthesiologist who specializes in working with adolescents and mental health, discusses the youth mental health crisis and the use of ketamine in this population.
Michaela and Dr. Edwards discuss the benefits of ketamine, the negative impact of lockdowns on mental health, and the importance of adjunct psychological therapies to psychedelic treatments. They explore the potential benefits of using ketamine to treat adolescents, which has gained attention for its effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms and preventing suicide.
Dr. Johnathan Edwards joins to discuss the potential of ketamine treatment for mental health conditions, especially in adolescent patients. Dr. Edwards is a board-certified anesthesiologist and the author of several books. One of his key focuses is treating mental health conditions with ketamine. He has provided ketamine in his practice for many years, along with psychiatrist Dr. Sam Zand.
In this conversation, Dr. Edwards shares the current state of research exploring many studies about ketamine for mental illness. This topic is especially relevant to the mental health crisis and the increase in teen suicide. He emphasizes that pediatricians, psychiatrists, family doctors, anesthesiologists and others need to collaborate.
Dr. Edwards has written a book titled Suicide, COVID-19, and Ketamine – How a Little-Known Drug Saves Lives. His latest book, soon to be published, is called The Revolutionary Ketamine, which Skyhorse Publishing will soon release. His books can be found on Amazon as well as at www.johnathanedwardsmd.com.
Episode Highlights
Ketamine is gaining wide attention as a treatment for mental health issues
Ketamine has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents and can be administered for suicide prevention, depression and addiction
Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted mental health, particularly among the youth
Dr. Edwards argues that free speech is necessary for good medicine
Ketamine could become the first-line drug for suicidal patients in emergency rooms
Changing an adolescent's environment and seeking therapy can be effective in helping them overcome depression and suicidal ideation
In an ideal world, ketamine treatment would be funded and administered by therapists who understand the power of psychedelics
Ketamine can induce mystical experiences
Dr. Edwards believes that psychedelics can have a profound effect on healing trauma
Proper therapy and support are crucial alongside psychedelic treatment
Dr. Edwards also cites case reports of abnormal suicide rates in school districts across the US
Dr. Edward’s Website
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.
You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape