Australia's recent legalisation of psychedelic medication will be helpful for people currently struggling with depression, PTSD and other major mental health issues. However, this treatment will come at a hefty cost of AUD $25,000-$35,000 (€15,500-€21,700 euro) and some Australians are worried about the accessibility and ethics of the treatments.

Australian Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) made history when they approved the new treatments for authorised pharmacies. Starting 1 July, the major decision will allow individuals suffering with depression and PTSD to utilise the drugs found in magic mushrooms. These drugs are psilocybin and MDMA.

For people without medical clearance to utilise the drugs they will still be deemed as prohibited.

The psychedelic treatments are also causing concern online from doctors about the ethics and safety of the treatment.

22.5% of ppl experienced some negative consequences from their self treatment with #psychedelics & 0.9% sought emergency medical attention. Younger folks were more likely experience negative consequences. More #harmreduction needed for ppl who DIY psychedelic psychotherapy. https://t.co/3Jsvn2tBWg

— Dr Stephen Bright (@stephenjbright) March 9, 2023

“Innovation is precious and overdue in [mental health] care and something we @orygen_aus work on daily- however safety is equally important. The TGA decision has opened the gate to widespread well funded promotion of promising yet risky use of psilocybin in particular,” stated Executive Director of Orygen Australia and University of Melbourne Professor of youth mental health Patrick McGorry on Twitter.

“TGA should review the decision and wait until research base is solid.”

When speaking to VICE, Murdoch University’s Associate Professor of psychology Petra Skeffington, called the decision “surprising” with Skeffington’s current research on the MDMA drug. “It will probably always need a therapist or multiple therapists to make sure that the person is engaging in therapy safely. Beyond that it’s very hard to imagine in practical terms.”

The practical terms were highlighted by Dr. Stephen Bright. Bright mentioned to The Sydney Morning Herald how the treatments will be inaccessible once they are rolled out.

“I honestly don’t think, for the next 12 to 18 months post July 1, that these treatments will be very widely available at all.”

The extreme cost of the medicine will be an even higher price tag when the cost of treatment and proper supervision with a psychiatrist comes into play.

It will also be hard to find therapists and psychologists who will want to use the medication for their treatments and thus restrict access to the treatment even further.

The treatment will only be available for people who can afford the AUD $25,000-$35,000 (€15,500-€21,700 euro) price tag.

University of Melbourne associate professor Gillinder Bedi told The Sydney Morning Herald, “It’s unclear who will foot the bill, some organisations are trying to set up philanthropic funding. But it’s going to be for people with money, in the initial stages at least.”