from Tiney Ricciardi of the Denver Post,

Hockey player Kyle Quincey began mentally preparing for retirement well before his career was over. The former defenseman, who spent three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, knew it would be a tough transition since he’d seen others in the National Hockey League struggle to assimilate after dedicating their lives – and bodies – to the sport....

That’s when Daniel Carcillo, a former Chicago Blackhawks player and a known psychedelics advocate, introduced Quincey to “magic mushrooms.”

Quincey partook in a “ceremony” that not only profoundly impacted him personally, but also gave him a new purpose: To help others struggling with their mental health in hopes of saving lives. He’s now in the process of building a retreat center on Colorado’s Western Slope, called Do Good Ranch, where he aims to provide psilocybin therapy for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), addiction, anxiety and depression, among other ailments.

“The mission there is to create a sanctuary and safe place for veterans, first responders, athletes and all warriors that are willing to do the work to heal themselves,” Quincey said during the panel.

Research into psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in “magic mushrooms,” as a mental health tool is still young; however, during clinical trials, high doses of the substance have exhibited anti-depressant effects in individuals with treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety and existential distress. Small trials evaluating its potential to treat addiction have also yielded promising results.

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