Use of recreational drugs in clinical trials for patients with mental illness.

[hybridxer0]

In areas where I've lived, there have been medical trials suggested for those suffering for certain types of mental illness. There have been several advancements and published studies regarding the use of recreational drugs (such as psilocybin and MDMA). While not a cure, many patients experienced a better quality of life and several reported improvement of their condition. Obviously there are pitfalls here, as well as scriptural ramifications, not to mention deep conscience-related concerns.

My thought is this: It would be a personal medical and conscience decision, but not necessarily an automatic “no,” if the drug is administered by qualified medical personnel as part of legitimate treatment/research complete with informed consent, legal oversight, and a real medical purpose. What I'm not discussing is recreation use and even in this case, a Christian would need to be very cautious if the trial’s purpose or effect is essentially to experience a high, if the drug is not medically justified for that person, if it risks worsening mental illness, addiction, loss of self-control, or if it violates law or Bible principles.

In this time of the end, the effects of this system/world and worsening imperfection have really taken the toll on health (especially mental health as the recent data has suggested is rising at an alarming rate). I was just curious about this and wanted to know what others thought on the matter.

[carlos]

1 hour ago, hybridxer0 said:

It would be a personal medical and conscience decision, but not necessarily an automatic “no,” if the drug is administered by qualified medical personnel as part of legitimate treatment/research complete with informed consent, legal oversight, and a real medical purpose.

 

The scriptural principle involved is to avoid anything that defiles our body or our spirit (2Co 7:1). That is, substances that are harmful or that create addiction.

 

Drugs in themselves are not recreational. Drugs are just drugs with different effects. If some of their effects are beneficial, they are administered under medical supervision, and their use in that way is allowed by the Caesar, Christians there's no scriptural objection to them.

 

 A Christian wouldn't use morphine with recreational purposes, but certainly could use it under medical supervision to reduce pain after a surgery, for example. If doesn't depend on the drug, but on the conditions in which it's used. Of course, even under medical care we still would be careful about the potential addiction.

 

[LeolaRootStew]

A recreational drug that is administered by a medical professional for a legitimate medical purpose is, by definition, no longer a recreational drug. Beyond that, we would apply the principles Carlos mentioned about defiling the body, being in an appropriate state of mind, and avoiding damage and addiction.

[dljbsp]

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=502013210&par=4&srcid=share

it establishes the organization’s normal framework for medical decisions that are not directly forbidden in Scripture.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1102012490&par=1&srcid=share

emphasizes informed consent, patient autonomy, and personal medical decisions.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1101989223&par=1&srcid=share

Old reference but the clearest reference on drugs generally. It explains that the Bible condemns drug use for intoxication, escapism, or loss of self-control.

Other references point out:
warns that misuse can become spiritually and physically dangerous.
applies Bible principles to marijuana and other intoxicating substances


Good to know, so we can understand others decisions, that can look and feel like a scriptural weakness

[Brandon]

I think it will become increasingly complicated with our Bible studies, as many prefer alternative / DIY health treatments. Some will say they have an anxiety disorder but don’t trust hospitals, and therefore “self medicate” with marijuana. In the past it was easy to remind them how it was illegal to buy it and we need to respect Caesar’s laws, however it is now fully legal in my country at federal and provincial levels, so I can no longer defer to “Caesar has said no,” and therefore it all becomes very gray rather than black and white…

I think being done under tight medical controls is significantly less risky, though not with none.

 

it’s all complex and getting moreso everyday. I don’t have the answers. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Brandon