Post: Fungi as a means to curb meth addiction

A Gisborne marae is hosting a clinical study on the use of silocybin as a means to treat methamphetamine addiction.

Twelve people have gone through the first phase of the trial at Rangiwaho Marae, south of Gisborne over the last month.

They have been given doses of psilocybin extracted from the mushrooms imported from Canada.

It is a collaboration including the marae, Rua Bioscience as well as several research and health organisations.

The first cohort of 12 people are all healthy and do not have addiction problems – and will serve as a means to prove the therapy can be safe before testing it further.

Jody Toroa is a trustee at Rangiwaho Marae and she talks to Kathryn about the organisation’s interest and involvement in the trial. Dr Suresh Muthukumaraswamy from Auckland University is overseeing the trials. Doses of psilocybin extract from mushrooms were prepared as part of the first phase of the clinical trials based at Rangiwaho Marae. Photo: Supplied / Rangiwaho Marae

Fungi as a means to curb meth addiction