A Gisborne bio-pharmaceutical company is pioneering research into psychoactive compounds that could help break the cycle of methamphetamine addiction.
Rua Bioscience, based in Ruatoria, has been granted a license to cultivate 10 varieties of indigenous magic mushrooms for research in a first for New Zealand.
Controlled clinical trials are set to begin next month with researchers focusing on psilocybin and psilocin — compounds that are believed to alter brain receptors and prompt positive behavioural changes.
The research process
Lead scientist Naomi Gerrard told 1News cultivating the mushrooms was a "humbling experience".
"Nobody has tried to do this before. We've grown a lot of mould along the way, but there is no textbook on how to do this."
Gerrard and her team ensure growing conditions for the mushrooms are optimal with careful weekly checkups.
Once they are cultivated, the mushrooms are sent to Auckland for chemical analysis to determine levels of psychoactive components.
The research draws on traditional Māori knowledge, as these mushrooms have been used for medicinal and spiritual purposes for centuries.
Potential impact
Gerrard said there was "huge evidence" psilocybin and psilocin can be catalysts for change.
"People, particularly with addiction, get stuck in these just repeating the same patterns of behaviour.
"They form these habits and these sort of highways in their brain and they just default to that.
"We want to try to sit here and create new neural pathways through a term called neuroplasticity. In Te Ao Māori, we call it shape shifting."
Advocates believe these chemical compounds can help patients to break old habits and form new ones, an approach welcomed by addiction specialists.
Gisborne-based addiction councillor Steve Whitaker said there was more need for support combating meth addiction.
Recent police wastewater testing shows that methamphetamine across the East Coast region is one of the highest rates in the country.
Whitaker said meth was easier to get than cannabis in most towns.
"There are still a lot of people who aren't getting better or overcoming addiction. Psychedelic therapy shows a lot of promise."
The research is deeply personal for Gerrard.
"Everyone here has been affected in some way by meth addiction. Growing up, I've seen friends and family lose everything to it."
She will be one of twelve participants in the first clinical trial in July, aiming to see how the fungi could transform lives.
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