Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) had some serious questions for surgeon general nominee Casey Means Wednesday during a Senate hearing over her open use of psychedelics.
Collins raised concerns during the hearing about Means' comments on psychedelic drugs, with the lawmaker citing how "addiction and drug overdoses are a major problem for families and communities in my state of Maine and across the nation."
"I am concerned that in your book on 'Good Energy' that you urged readers to consider psilocybin-assisted therapy," Collins said. "You also said you were inspired to try psychedelics and what I can only describe as an internal voice that whispered 'it's time to prepare.' Illicit drug use remains a huge problem in this country. This didn't happen in your teen years. According to your book, in 2021 you began using illicit psychedelic mushrooms. So my questions to you are twofold. One, do you stand by what you said in your book encouraging people to try psychedelics? And second, as surgeon general, should you be confirmed, how would you speak to the American people about the use of illicit drugs?"
Means described her experience and explained that she had used it for personal and spiritual purposes, acknowledging that illicit drug use remains a serious problem across the US.
"This is a very important question, and I would start by just saying that I believe what I would say as a private citizen is in many cases different from what I would say as a public health official," Means said.
"Joining a team where the purpose of this role is to communicate the absolute best evidence-based science to the American people to keep them safe, thriving, and healthy," she added. "When it comes to psychedelic therapy for mental health issues, I think the science is still emerging. So it would certainly not be a recommendation to the American people to do that, under no circumstances. I do believe that there is exciting work being done in this area that needs to continue on psychedelic therapies for PTSD in veterans, for mental health issues. And some of the researchers who are doing this work have said it is the most promising and exciting of their entire career. I look forward to following that, but to be clear, under no circumstances would I recommend that to the American people in this role."
Collins again pressed her on what she meant by a voice saying "it's time to prepare" in her book.
"In that passage of the book I'm referring to my mother's passing, which happened — she got a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer about a week after that experience," Means said. "In my meditations and prayers at that time I was having a deep sense that something ominous was coming. That is what that is referring to. I think when I speak of spirituality, I do believe Americans are ready to hear about spirituality as it pertains to medicine, 80% of Americans are spiritual or religious. There is amazing evidence out of Columbia University, the lab of Dr. Lisa Miller, that spirituality has a large impact on health outcomes. Certainly that is a personal anecdote, but I come again, and committed to sharing only the best, solid signs with Americans on how to be healthy."
