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May 21, 2009
I have just completed two years at Naropa University studying contemplative psychology. I have a strong passion for helping others struggling with substance dependence (heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc). As I look beyond graduation and begin to survey the various cultural institutions in place to help these individuals my heart sinks.
Many of them still adhere to the policies which state that all substances are bad. There is no recognition of the decades worth of research honoring psychedelics as valuable aids for assisting people with serious addictions. Of course, this is in part due to the cloudy legal haze surrounding these important medicines. And yet, there is certainly a resurgence in research, and perhaps in the future psychedelics will be incorporated in this healing modality.
But I don't want to wait until that day. I want to explore models, connect with others, and begin exploring what place psychedelics have for treating addictions in the modern era. Would it be more medical, religious, or individualized? A combination of the three? How viable is it explore this in countries where psychedelic medicine is honored (such as Brazil)? What can we do to bring awareness of this to fruition in the United States?
I would love to hear from anyone that shares a similar vision in this particular stream of the upcoming Psychedelic Society.
Comments
medicines
— Jun 10, 2009
i know they have already used some psychoactive substances to help cure peopel of thier addictions. for example yage was used by william burroughs, lsd was used by the co-creator of AA who claimed that it had good effects on him and developing the spiritual nature of AA and ibogaine is used sometimes to treat heroin addiction
Dreams Entrance our Flowing Reality
cures
— Jun 11, 2009
Interesting question; actually it's the one that got me involved in my current line of work.
Medical--there are some good studies going on which could help with this idea of psychedelic treatment for addictions. The problem is that this is still a relatively unknown field with little double-blinded data, and experiments take time. If someone comes up with a super-duper-amazing intervention, it could change the whole way we look at psychedelics, but that could take anywhere from 2-10 years; maybe someone is going to make a big donation to MAPS, and we'll have some of the more promising ones rescheduled in 5 years (see: Ibogaine); Who knows, Obama might decide to spark one on live TV and thus usher in the kind of partying that greeted the end of prohibition. In other words, don't hold your breath, unless you want to become a clinician and then an activist.
Individualized--difficult to say. Talk to some of the Ibogaine people if you get a chance (fascinating old-world entheogen); one trend I have personally noted is the importance of the contet of the experience. The Minds Alive program in South Africa is a great example of a culturally integrated entheogenic intervention center; they have an impressive one-shot cure rate. People who take Ibogaine to treat addiction in the US do so illicitly with little support or integration, and often go back for several treatments.
Religious--Yes, yes, yes. Uniao de Vegetal (UdV) is hot right now; they won a case to continue importing Ayu-huasca into the US (morals of the story: though the government may say a substance is dangerous in legislation, they must also prove that it is dangerous in the specific case.Also, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act trumps most other laws), and are hella edge. Not as Christian as the other big Huasca group Santo Daime, the UdV is big in S. America, and has a good following in the US with a lot of former alcoholics. Srsly, check 'em out. I think they are over in NM... that is kinda close to CO?
-Andrew Byrne
--------
Community Outreach Coordinator
Psilocybin Cancer Research Project
Johns Hopkins Behavioral Biology Research Unit
Link to study: http://www.cancer-insight.org
Actually, according to
— Jun 19, 2009
Actually, according to Burroughs' "Yage Letters" he ended up not finding what he was looking for. As Andrew stated, the most I have read as far as addiction treatment comes from Ibogaine, from Gabon. Daniel Pinchbeck reveals his experience in "Breaking Open the Head", the title itself a reference to Ibogaine.
From my Orgo Teacher: Context Matters
— Jun 19, 2009
I have read "Yage Letters" and it is a good description of the worng set in the wrong setting. Burroughs was an odd sort most notably, he had a bad junk habit (which is nothing like being a pothead, and he hated pot). he went to S.america with Shultes to find the "kick", and then talked about how horrible and traumatic the experience was (and had a radically different style afterwards). Textbook example of wrong set in the wrong setting; The majority of the book is how he is getting screwed (not in the good way =]) by every native he meets. Add to that an expectation of a healing drug that is a good time, and then the underlying problem of non-ceremonial use in a foreign culture... I would argue that the drug had an effect on him, but not as an addiction kick--he was not in the right setting for that. a good UdV ceremony with a supportive community would provide an experience nothing like Burroughs had. Same goes for Ibogaine (see my second 'graf). The drug pharmacology is important, but the setting is an incredibly powerful force, I would argue that the setting has more to do with the nature of the experience than the drug. Do you agree?
-Andrew Byrne
--------
Community Outreach Coordinator
Psilocybin Cancer Research Project
Johns Hopkins Behavioral Biology Research Unit
Link to study: http://www.cancer-insight.org
LSD
— Jul 01, 2009
Ram Dass gave the maharaji a megadose of LSD, which did not alter his consciousness. He made it analogous to not having to take a bus to Detroit if you're in Detroit. Through long term, deep meditation one can open the same doors of consciousness that LSD does in a few hours. The experiments eluded to above, in which Bill W participated, were conducted in a controlled environment at Sanford and others, the Sandose co.in switzerland supplied the ctalyst, and that was part of the question. Could a sudden, profound spiritual experience, brought on by LSD be the necessary ingredient for overcoming alcoholism? I believe the answer is yes. As someone who has overcome my own addictions (alcohol being one), and who meditates and has had similar experiences with awakened ESP through this meditation and the use of LSD, I would say that these spiritual/psychedelic experiences are vital to overcoming addiction. I think that Bill, Aldous, Mr. Hoffman and some others may have had the same conclusion, but outside of a controlled environment it could be a little more dangerous, because humans, and especially the very addiction prone, can become addicted to the experience of being in that realm of existence and not want to come back. The idea is to gain insight and then come back here and now, having profound understanding but living the life of an ordinary being. Or as Jesus said "In this world but not of it." Anyway, that's enough out of me. Namaste!
I feel you veg
— Aug 06, 2009
hey man, I really REALLy feeel your passion about this. I see the drug war AND the phony 'care' masquerade of this new psychedelic resurrgence. It is a joke. a BIG LIE. And of course it is up to its tits in forms and absurd 'studies'. FUCK SO much research was done way back then, but of course they dont give two .....Oh my language is getting too course. And what about age old 'studies' from indigenous tradition.
I see it this way. it is all TOO careful. Psychedelic therapy isn't even allowed here in the UK. Like they follow the warmongers arse to commit war crimes but real spiritual freedom, care and love for people and children?? ...no!
ALSO how MUCh does this psychedelic therapy COST???????????????!
I read a very interesting article the other day here. About a guy getting a dramtic cure with help from LSD, for alcoholism: http://www.etnopsico.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=61
"“The Real Value of Truly Effective Treatment
Arthur King received 35 hours of individual psychotherapy, which included one high dose (450 micrograms) LSD session. What would such treatment cost today if delivered in the public sector? At a fee of $60 per hour for the psychologist (35 hours = $2,100), $25 per hour for the nurse (15 hours = $375) and $8,400 for one month in a public hospital, his treatment would cost *$10,875* in 1999 dollars(9).â€
That was i10 years gback, how much would it cost now?
So my idea is to empower people in communities to do this!!
Ie., MAPS already has a couple of videos that show what to do if you see someone having a 'bad trip'--that is empowering us isn't it?
It takes just another step for videos that explore how we can do WITHOUT therapy that really is only for those who can afford it, and help each other!!
I am thinking of starting a blog about this. If Evolver is for communites then this sould be central. I am not doing a Tim Leary, but the only option is people without money who are really the ones suffereing from the civilization left to eat 'meds'!
I would recommend keeping a tradition of licensed 'guides'
— Aug 22, 2009
Otherwise, you get something close to what ninmapa outlined: little "churches" that have varying qualities of experience, and varying attitudes towards the use of psychodelics. This can cause wildly inappropriate use of these potent, awesome substances.
Without proper training in what a good psychodelic setting would look like, you will have something like the Southern Baptist Convention: no coherence in the use of the procedure, just a commonality in purpose. This causes problems when we try to suss out (legally) the safety of these substances. Indeed, many point to Leary's extreme rhetoric as part of what caused the extreme american crack-down on entheogens. Zezt, your protestation to the contrary fails to convince me that you are not spouting the same line; and the idea of 'care' and psychodelics is a joke? Please, aside from just spewing that, give some backing; let us see why combating addition and PTSD with entheogens is all a lie. We really have to get past the idea of "getting high" and figure out how to grow as a people, and I would like to see what is blocking that here.
The cost thing is kinda secondary--have you paid for methadone treatment lately?
-Andrew Byrne
--------
Community Outreach Coordinator
Psilocybin Cancer Research Project
Johns Hopkins Behavioral Biology Research Unit
Link to study: http://www.cancer-insight.org
interesting study
— Aug 24, 2009
I hope you will post blogs about the study as it happens, it sounds like it's set up to actually deliver some real results.
lsd and gurus
— Aug 24, 2009
I just want to add the note that Ram Dass's guru most likely palmed the lsd, as suggested by some observers, and used it later to dose some disciples.
Haha thats a humorous
— Aug 28, 2009
Haha thats a humorous proposition. I dont really see an enlightened guru just palming some acid to save for later haha. Seems like they'd be too honest and upfront.
I believe it about the not feeling anything. In the beginning of Be Here, Now, Dass talks about how some gurus felt just a minor headache while the acid took place, while others felt nothing.
Question:
Does anyone have any connects with the Uniao de Vegetal or their contact info? Is their only US Church in New Mexico?
You are welcome!
— Aug 30, 2009
You may wish to review the original ha ha regarding pretentiousness, but that's what sucks about forum conversations. Hard to gauge intent. Peace, Roy
the scoop
— Sep 16, 2009
Iboga has shown promise toward treating drug-dependance. In heroin addicts, after 36 hours of ingesting, patients show no symptoms of withdrawal, and no desire to use heroin again.
There is research at a couple of places here in the US. They are currently using Ibogaine, the synthetic derivative of the bark of the Iboga plant.
The bark of the Iboga plant is currently a schedule 1 drug, so you might have a hard time purchasing it here.
There is a lot of information on Iboga, i suggest you check it out. It is the mother of all psychedelics, and being so it should be treated with the highest respect.
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