Psychedelic Healing: Why the pushback from addiction and mental health specialists?

In this episode, we interview John Giordano, an addiction specialist, traumatologist, and mental health advocate with over 35 years of experience in addiction treatment. We discuss the stigma and pushback against utilizing ketamine and other psychedelics in mental health and addiction treatment. John also emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to mental health, addressing medical conditions and behaviors that contribute to depression and anxiety. John's journey in addiction treatment began with a deep dissatisfaction with the quality of care and the one-sided view of traditional treatment. His experience in the field led him to realize that there was a need for a more holistic approach to healing addiction. John's interest in psychedelics and ketamine treatment began in 1996 when he attended a neuroscience conference in Taipei. He initially had reservations about ketamine due to its association with addiction, but his research and conversations with people who had undergone ketamine treatment convinced him of its potential benefits.