Causes or Cures Psychedelics and Acute Trauma: Insights from Nova Festival Survivors, with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, a clinical psychologist, researcher and trauma expert about an early and deeply sensitive study examining how different substances may have influenced early trauma responses among survivors of the October 7 Nova music festival attack.
Many survivors had taken substances just hours before the traumatic event — including classic psychedelics, MDMA, cannabis, alcohol, or none at all. Dr. Rubinstein’s team approached this research with extreme care, focusing on respect, consent, and the ethical challenges of studying trauma in real time.
Together, they discuss:
- Why Dr. Rubinstein became interested in studying trauma at the moment it happens, not years later
- How the research team worked respectfully with survivors in the aftermath of mass trauma
- The challenges of studying real-world substance use without lab-verified dosing
- Why survivors who had taken classic psychedelics reported lower anxiety and fewer early PTSD symptoms compared with other groups
- How timing and state of consciousness during trauma may influence how the brain encodes memory and fear
- What we can, and cannot, conclude from an early, observational study
- Why these findings do not justify self-experimentation, but may justify further controlled research
- What mental health professionals and policymakers should take away from this work
- How doing trauma research has shaped Dr. Rubinstein’s own understanding of resilience and healing
This conversation does not promote psychedelic substance use. Instead, it explores how brain state, context, and timing may shape trauma responses, and why studying these questions responsibly matters.
Content note: This episode discusses trauma related to the October 7 attacks. Listener discretion is advised.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or mental health advice.
Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, and organizational psychologist. He is a founding member of the Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Emergency and Disaster Management at the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, where he lectures on trauma, resilience, and mental health in emergency settings. His research focuses on trauma, testimony, and resilience, including how individuals and societies process extreme events. Dr. Rubinstein developed an intensive short-term group intervention model for treating traumatic casualties and has led multidisciplinary research collaborations on trauma across psychology, history, and architecture.
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