Exploring the Thrill and Intensity of Psychedelic Substances
Tony Bossis, a researcher at the NYU School of Medicine, is exploring the connection between mystical experiences induced by psychedelics and their relevance to great religions. His work primarily focuses on the psychological and spiritual effects of psychedelics, with a specific interest in their potential therapeutic benefits.
In 2016, Bossis led a landmark study that made headlines in the field of psychedelic research. The study, which involved cancer patients, administered a single dose of psilocybin and found profound stress reduction as a result. This groundbreaking research was published that year.
Bossis's current research continues to delve into the effects of psychedelics on stress levels in cancer patients. However, his work extends beyond this, as he is also investigating the relationship between mystical experiences in great religions and psychedelic experiences.
One aspect of his research involves studying the effects of psilocybin on religious leaders, aiming to understand how these experiences might enhance their spiritual and emotional lives. He is also interested in topics such as ego-dissolution in near-death and mystical experiences under psychedelic influence.
Bossis has spoken publicly on subjects such as consciousness, death, and mystical experience, linking psychedelic experiences with deeper exploration of spirituality and brain mysteries. His recent research endeavors also include addressing psychiatric challenges such as demoralization syndrome and hopelessness through psychedelic treatment, highlighting a therapeutic and spiritual integrative approach.
In summary, Bossis's work ties psychedelic-induced mystical experiences explicitly to their potential spiritual significance and practical impact in religious contexts and therapeutic settings, including how such experiences might relate to or parallel the mystical aspects of great religions. This integration of psychedelic science and religious studies is central to his research agenda as of 2025.
Tony Bossis's current research on the effects of psychedelics includes investigating their potential applications in health-and-wellness, particularly mental-health. For instance, he is studying the impacts of psilocybin on religious leaders to understand the ways it could enhance their spiritual lives. Furthermore, Bossis is also exploring therapies-and-treatments for psychiatric challenges like demoralization syndrome and hopelessness through psychedelic interventions, suggesting a integrative approach that combines spirituality and science.
