While human history is rich with tales of alchemy and mind altering substances, the usage was often ritualised and functioning in a "sacred" or communal context.
I personally experimented with some of these substances, and i intuitively see them as a potential great leap forward compared to the potential horror of opiates, benzodiazepines or life long SSRI use - but i also feel a vague dark undercurrent running through this newfound mainstream appreciation of psychedelics just as Mindfulness has become a utility or a tool removed from its context or even it's original meaning whatever that may be.
My own struggle with living a healthy life in 21. century "technocapitalist society" or whatever has led me to believe that most depression is not "just a chemical imbalance", "a lack of appreciation or gratitude" or a "lazy mindset" - instead depression is _often not always_ closer to an evolutionary mechanism telling you that "something is wrong" and you need to take radical steps to remove yourself from X situation whether it be social, about lifestyle or about geographic location - the opposite can also be true, that you need to be accepted by a tribe, reach out for guidance or establish new relationships.
Modern humans are in general pretty lonely, skin hungry, lack communal connection, touch, intimacy, a good proper diet, connection with nature, meaning/spirituality in a social context, have bad posture, are stressed out, have horrible sleep patterns etc. compared to our evolutionary blueprint or just compared to the societies of a few decades ago - without romanticising too much.
In other words; it's not weird that people are depressed in this day and age spending so much time inside, not being close to friends / family, not moving about enough . And i am not convinced that mainstream palliative care is sufficient or even the right approach the problem. It's about restructuring local community, our cities and our daily lives.
Anyway i currently se this as being very promising, and a am still endlessly fascinated by the philosophy and science of consciousness, meditative praxis and psychedelics, so i am not against that aspect but critical of the utilitarian mindset behind this type of use.
EDIT: I can see that i receive quite a lot of downvotes. Can anyone elaborate?