Ben Malcolm: The Spirit Pharmacist: Psychedelics & Pharmacology, Episode 87, The Psychedelic Entrepreneur Podcast 
Dr. Ben Malcolm, PharmD, MPH, BCPP, earned his bachelor’s degree (BS) in pharmacology at the University of California at Santa Barbara, prior to his Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) at Touro University California. He then completed post-graduate residencies in Acute Care at Scripps Mercy Hospital and Psychiatric Pharmacy at the University of California at San Diego Health. After residency training he obtained Board Certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP). He began his career as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Western University of Health Sciences (WUHS), College of Pharmacy.
Dr. Malcolm’s interests focus on the intersection between psychiatric medications and psychedelic therapies. He has given several Continuing Education presentations to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals as well as published over a dozen articles in peer-reviewed literature relating to psychedelics or psychiatric medications. Currently he provides psychopharmacology consulting services and a resource and support membership relating to the use psychedelic and psychotropic medications via his site https://www.spiritpharmacist.com
Dr. Malcolm envisions a society in which access to psychedelic drugs in a variety of safe and supported settings is available for purposes of psychospiritual well-being, personal development, ceremonial sacraments, and treatment of mental illness. His vision guides his scholarship, education, and service-related professional activity.
In this episode, Ben Malcolm and Beth Weinstein discuss…
- The revelation that led Ben to call himself “The Spirit Pharmacist”
- All about Ben’s online membership program
- Ben’s consulting work for people who need more individualized support
- Psychedelic use in relation to antidepressants and benzodiazepines
- Why tapering off of psychiatric meds often takes as long as six months to a year
- The physiological safety of psilocybin
- How the more psychiatric meds someone is on, the higher the risk of adverse reactions when using psychedelics
- The risks of doing multiple psychedelic medicines in close proximity
- The reality that death from psychedelics is extremely rare
- The “Wild West” of psychedelics with respect to the safety of new compounds
- Ben’s rule of thumb about working with new compounds
- The difference between phase 1, 2 and 3 trials
- Issues of legality related to the use of analogues of scheduled substances
- Ketamine as potentially habit forming and addictive, but also highly therapeutic if used safely with clear intention
- How psychedelics uncover but don’t necessarily solve the root cause of psychological symptoms
- The real (if rare) occurrence of “miraculous” psychospiritual shifts and healings assisted by psychedelic use
Ben Malcolm’s Links & Resources
Website ▶: https://www.spiritpharmacist.com/
Instagram ▶: https://www.instagram.com/spiritpharmacist/
Facebook ▶: https://www.facebook.com/spiritpharmacist
Linktr.ee and Email subscription ▶: https://www.spiritpharmacist.com/link-tree
Free Gift ▶: Antidepressant and Psychedelic Drug Interaction and Tapering Guide https://www.spiritpharmacist.com/a/2147514915/hAiHsDMu
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