Visiting a doctor isn’t your typical experience.
At the new Northwell Health facility, patients are allowed to use substances like magic mushrooms, MDMA, and marijuana while they watch sports and snack on chips, all for the sake of medical research.
Nehal Vadhan, who heads the Feinstein Family Human Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory in Manhasset, explained that they aim to deliver doses that would typically result in a four- to six-hour experience to treat issues such as schizophrenia and social anxiety.
“For cannabis, we advise taking it all at once rather than using it throughout the day. This way, they can feel a potent effect right off the bat,” he noted.
The approach at Northwell is about creating a “naturalistic” atmosphere—think cozy living rooms where patients can get high or lively bar settings for alcohol consumption, complete with big-screen TVs, snacks, and easy refills.
Vadhan mentioned that participants will answer questions about how they feel throughout their experience during a planned four-day work period, with a day off in between sessions.
“There are also moments for relaxation,” he added.
no time to waste
The program includes various tests, primarily focusing on psychiatric patients already in the hospital and other Northwell branches to understand the behavioral impacts of alcohol and the medicinal properties of drugs.
“One study aims to assess the effects of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, in relation to social anxiety disorder,” he stated. “Another study is exploring the safety of MDMA, looking to address the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.”
Research on ketamine is also taking place at the nearby Psychedelic Research and Treatment Center at Zucker Hillside Hospital, where the Feinstein program is being implemented in different ways.
This center features specialized rooms designed for various drug experiences and focuses on patient comfort.
One room is softly lit in blue for those experiencing psychedelics, while another has a green ambiance for cannabis users.
These spaces are equipped with comfy seating, classical music, calming visuals on screens, and virtual reality headsets to help create a serene environment.
Typically, two therapists are present during each session to guide participants.
“They provide support and keep people focused on the session,” Vadhan shared, adding that complete comfort isn’t the aim. “Some discomfort can lead to real change. You need to face the issues causing your challenges.”
Even challenging experiences tend to result in mild reactions.
“Often, it just leads to sleepiness, laughter, or slurred speech,” he remarked, adding that he rarely witnesses aggression or anger.
Patients’ experiences are monitored anonymously through one-way glass and cameras in a space resembling a police interrogation room.
At the Hillside facility’s basement bar, one-way sliding windows allow the psychology team to easily refill drinks of beer, wine, or spirits.
Participants consuming alcohol typically have around 3 to 5 drinks daily.
“We’re trying to understand how people feel about alcohol and its effects in a natural setting,” he explained.
After drinking, participants might be asked to follow tasks like memorizing numbers or completing basic math problems.
The bar area also includes dimmable lights and a variety of pub signs, enhancing the relaxed vibe.
It’s situated next to a driving simulator used to evaluate patients’ driving abilities through different scenarios, akin to a “Grand Theft Auto” experience.
“We can analyze how they manage the gas and brake, especially if they have a history of use,” he explained.
However, participants are not permitted to drive to and from these sessions.
“Even if they feel a bit on edge after leaving, it’s not a safety concern,” Vadhan clarified.
