An MP stuck in a “living hell” with PTSD after being the victim of an attack believes magic mushrooms could offer a cure.
Labour ’s Charlotte Nichols, 32, wants to see restrictions eased on psilocybin – the mind-altering chemical found in certain fungi.
It has been used in some studies alongside therapy to try to treat severe mental illnesses. But it is classed as a Schedule 1 drug – alongside LSD and MDMA – as it is officially thought to have no therapeutic value, and can not be lawfully possessed or prescribed.
This means research is costly as scientists must obtain a Home Office licence.
Ms Nichols, diagnosed with PTSD in 2021, believes psilocybin could help her symptoms.
The MP, who was sectioned for 19 days in 2021 and has had suicidal thoughts, said: “PTSD doesn’t just rob you of your sense of joy and safety, it takes your control away.
“Once, a man on a Tube platform looked like my attacker and danger signals in my body picked up. There was a train coming and part of me thought I could jump in front of it to get out of that situation. I didn’t ride the Tube for four months after that.”
Ms Nichols, who takes medication to manage her PTSD, said she would try psilocybin-aided therapy, adding: “Psilocybin could help make me more like the person I was before.”
And the Warrington North MP reckons the drug could also help war veterans. But she said: “This is not a silver bullet – it won’t be appropriate for everyone.
“But if we’re going to tackle the mental health crisis, we need every tool available in the NHS ’s arsenal. This isn’t about recreational use, it’s about medical use.”
Ms Nichols wants to see psilocybin listed as Schedule 2, the same as diamorphine (heroin) and cannabis, which she says would help remove legal barriers to research.
Home Office Minister Robert Jenrick said last week the Government wants to “tackle this issue across all categories of Schedule 1 drugs, to reduce barriers to legitimate research rather than focus on individual drugs”.
He added: “Equally, we must keep a firm focus on the need to tackle drug misuse, which causes such harm across our society.”
