What if the future made psychedelic substances no longer dangerous drugs, but solutions for mental health problems? That’s the approach taken by the British design studio NewTerritory, which has designed conceptual devices soberly named “Humane Nature.” Consisting of biodegradable capsules and an inhaler, they would dispense, in very small quantities, certain components of hallucinogenic mushrooms or LSD.
With this project, NewTerritory hopes to draw attention to the growing body of evidence, including from the Psychedelic Research Centre at Imperial College London, showing their benefits in helping to treat depression. The studio also considered two other pods containing widely used non-psychoactive substances, like melatonin and CBD. The capsules would be sent in customized packages to consumers and paired with complementary products, including an app with guided meditations and wearables, such as contact lenses or patches, that would track physiological changes.
Lisa Agostini