Providing critical tools for investigating psychedelics use in treating medical conditions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued "Psychedelic Drugs: Considerations for Clinical Investigations Guidance for Industry" (guidance) in June 2023.

Ranging from plant drugs, like mushroom-derived psilocybin and cactus-derived peyote, to synthetics like Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA), hallucinogens are increasingly used to treat recognized disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and for wellness applications like enhancing emotional empathy, increasing feelings of closeness and promoting thoughtfulness and contemplativeness.‌