There is a brown dwarf star lurking at the edge of our solar system. It can only be seen with IR spectrum telescopes... it's not fiction. I'm not saying this is what will cause cataclysm, but its not in the visible spectrum from earth. http://viewzone.com/browndwarf.html
Mushrooms have been shown to be an effective treatment for ptsd and depression. Cannabis can also have medicinal properties but more like numbing pain relief/anxiety relief
As far as changing you, it depends... I think it can open you up to ideas you might not have considered previously, particularly the more psychedelic ones like lsd or mushrooms
I think in some ways they are being stopped by market forces. In my area they tried pushing the magic meat at multiple fast food locations, but now none of them offer it anymore. I have to think this is because no one is buying it. Just personal experience.
The spike is literally toxic.... I know the body can deal with it in limited amounts.... but how much is too much?
Just to play devils advocate here, there have been many chemical incidents on the east coast, from raw sewage and industrial waste near suburbs, to military testing chemicals like agent orange. There have been many diseases covered up. This illness could potentially be due to something as yet not 'discovered' just as much as it could be prions.
If it's obvious where is the proof they are his sponsors. There should a record or a transaction no?