Stanford readers can't get enough of great science and research stories. So as news of psychedelic drugs and their (sometimes miraculous-sounding) uses in treating mental health conditions bubbled up everywhere, we wanted to explore Stanford's work on the topic—and find out whether this new era of psychedelics research was going to live up to the hype. Our writer investigated not only current research projects but also the history of psychedelics. She spoke with half a dozen Stanford researchers studying whether and how these drugs work and, critically, which ones should be used for various conditions. Readers came away with a better understanding of "what's what" in psychedelics research—and of the tenuous state of that research as scientists scramble to stay ahead of recreational misuse of the drugs. To give readers a quick primer on each drug discussed, we broke out each one into a box that covered the drug's history, use, and effects—leaving the main bar for the true storytelling. This story did particularly well online. With nearly 21,000 views, it was one of our most-read stories of the year.
From the Judges
We agreed that this well-written entry offers a comprehensive understanding of psychedelic medications' potential benefits and challenges. The storytelling was captivating, and instructive, and it added to our understanding of the topic. Excellent illustrations make reading enjoyable. Given the current changes in drug regulation and growing openness to medical uses of previously marginalized drugs, this is a great read and a compelling, timely subject.
