There's a landmark project underway in Melbourne to find out whether psilocybin - the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms - can be used to improve end-of-life experiences.
But many Australians have already turned to the underground because they're convinced psychedelics improve their mental health.
Geoff Thompson investigates whether it's worth all the risks.

WirtschaftWissenschaft & Technik
Background Briefing Folgen
Background Briefing is daring narrative journalism: Australian investigations with impact. Our award-winning reporters forensically uncover the hidden stories at the heart of the country’s biggest issues.
Folgen von Background Briefing
223 Folgen
-
Folge vom 07.02.2021The scientists and shamans of psychedelic retreats
-
Folge vom 03.01.2021Summer Season: how one school failed its studentsKimberly's sunny, athletic and inquisitive about everything. But for years she harboured terrible secrets about what happened to her. This week, Janine Fitzpatrick investigates why her school failed to heed credible warnings that she was in danger. This is a repeat of a program that aired in October 2020.
-
Folge vom 27.12.2020Summer Season: This judge’s unfair decisions upended people’s lives. What can be done about it?These Australians were denied a fair hearing by one controversial judge. Now, for the first time, they're speaking out about their experiences. Hagar Cohen investigates what happens when the behaviour of a judge inside a courtroom is called into question. This is a repeat of a program that aired in February 2020.
-
Folge vom 20.12.2020Summer Season: He wanted an ambulance. He got a police "dog box".Tristan was a kind and gentle 23-year-old surfer from Byron Bay. One night he suffered a drug-induced psychotic episode. And ended up driven to hospital in a small steel cage. Police say it is probably the worst place he could be. Tristan later died in hospital. Mario Christodoulou investigates the series of tragic events that led to Tristan's death that raise questions about how emergency services treat young drug-affected people in New South Wales. This is a repeat of a program that aired in March 2020.