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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2021)
The Columbia Press August 6, 2021 3 Psilocybin shows promise as mental health therapy Photos courtesy KMUN Above: Engineer Gray Haertig does preliminary work, above, while a crew from Pacific Power prepare to install the tower, below. Radio tower will help with emergency communication Local ham radio operators and others pitched in to help radio station KMUN extend its broadcast signal in south Clatsop County. Listeners in Cannon Beach and Arch Cape can hear the station on 89.3-FM, thanks to a new translator. The signal should be strong and clear, as the radio waves are transmitting at 250 watts instead of the 10 watts pro- vided by the old transmitter, which was in a barn sur- rounded by trees and east of the highway. The new translator site is at the north end of town, above the inundation zone atop a 50-foot tower. The tower also will accommodate radio an- tennas for local HAM, GMRS and city of Cannon Beach emergency radios. Strong emergency com- munication capacity is a big priority for KMUN, the non- profit broadcaster wrote in a press release. “We plan to be on the air for you when it counts.” The success of this project was made possible through the extensive collaboration of KMUN staff and volunteers, Cannon Beach city employ- ees, members of the Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club and local contractors. The project was partially funded by Oregon Community Foun- dation, MJ Murdock Char- itable Trust, Pacific Power Foundation and local resi- dents. The active ingredient in psy- chedelic mushrooms shows promise as an option to ad- dress mental health issues, according to a report released by the state. The conclusion is a mile- stone in the effort to build the nation’s first state-regulated psilocybin therapy program. The study was undertaken by Oregon Health Authori- ty and the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board. The advisory board, ap- pointed by the governor, was created by the passage of Measure 109 in November. OHA published the Rapid Evidence Review and Recom- mendations on July 30. Among the findings: high- quality phase 1 and 2 clinical trials suggest that “psilocybin is efficacious in reducing de- pression and anxiety.” Tom Eckert, who chairs the psilocybin board, said the panel is “laser-focused” on developing recommendations for the eventual launch of the statewide psilocybin therapy and wellness program. “Science is fundamental, so organizing the scientific lit- erature relating to psilocybin was a first priority,” he said. “This comprehensive review will put us on solid ground moving forward.” The report explains that the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- tration has designated psilo- cybin a breakthrough therapy for depression; preliminary clinical evidence suggests it may represent a significant improvement over existing therapies. “Initial research also sug- gests that psilocybin may be efficacious in reducing prob- lematic alcohol and tobacco use,” the report continues. “Across studies, psilocybin increases spiritual well-be- ing, which may mediate other observed benefits. Study par- ticipants also commonly rate their psilocybin experiences as highly meaningful.” Angie Allbee, manager of the Psilocybin Services Section at the OHA Public Health Divi- sion, thanked the board for its “tremendous work in de- livering findings and recom- mendations to OHA for this review.” “Making this information available to the public is a sig- nificant step forward, as the findings and recommenda- tions will help OHA imple- ment a comprehensive reg- ulatory framework that will provide safe and effective psi- locybin services,” she said. The state eventually will li- cense and regulate the man- ufacturing, transportation, delivery, sale and purchase of psilocybin products, as well as the provision of psilocybin services. OHA will continue to work with the advisory board on recommendations for rules throughout the remainder of the development period, which ends Dec. 31, 2022.
