Psilocybin, an active ingredient in over 100 species of mushrooms, has been a hot topic in the field of research. After it was banned in the 1960s because of its misuse, psilocybin has been brought back again to research its effect on behavior. After this drug was distributed to twelve cancer patients ranging in age from 18 to 70, over a six month span, the participants reported that they no longer considered themselves overly anxious or worried as they were before. However, psilocybin is unlikely to be used to treat addictions because it can have several mental side effects, such as psychosis or psychological distress. However, further studies on psilocybin may be useful in developing similar drugs, but without the dangerous side effects.
The author of this article is Maia Szalavitz, a neuroscience journalist from TIME Magazine. Both Szalavitz and TIME are credible sources.
This article is important in context because it tells of a potentially breakthrough medicine that could revolutionize the lives of those suffering from anxiety. Although the undergoing research does not promise anything, the results of psilocybin have the potential to eradicate anxiety.
The purpose of this article was to tell of psilocybin, a drug that is currently being tested to determine its effects on those suffering from anxiety.
The text was written for the general public.
Ethos was used in this article. In order to get the readers to believe that this article was credible, Szalavitz included direct quotes from Charles Grob, a chief child psychiatrist at UCLA and Paul Kenny, an associate professor of neuroscience at Scripps Research Institute in Florida.
The author's purpose of revealing the current research on psilocybin was accomplished. It can have revolutionary effects on people suffering from anxiety, as studies have shown that this drug minimizes the effects of anxiety. Hopefully, the research may be progressed and positive outcomes may be put forth from this drug.
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