#97 Rick Doblin - MDMA Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Feb 19, 2024
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Explore the intersection of traditional therapy and psychedelics with Rick Doblin, discussing the mental health crisis and studies in Iceland. Delve into personal stories of healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy and the potential for a trauma-free world by 2070. Learn about the benefits of brain health supplements, transformative growth, and geopolitical concerns related to psychedelic therapy. Discover the spiritual awakening and debates around natural vs synthetic psychedelics, along with potential PTSD treatment through psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelic assisted therapy combines traditional therapy with psychedelics for holistic healing.
MAPS founder Rick Doblin aims to make the world trauma-free by 2070 using psychedelic therapy.
Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT offer transformative experiences for self-acceptance and ego dissolution.
5-MeO-DMT facilitates personal growth, connection to the universe, and enhanced hope.
MDMA therapy shows promise in reducing trauma, crime rates, and improving mental health outcomes.
Challenges in scaling psychedelic therapy include therapist shortage and accessibility barriers for patients.
Deep dives
The Power of Psychedelic Therapy: Healing Traumatic Brain Injury with Ibogaine
A best friend of the podcast host shares his life-changing experience with psychedelic therapy using Ibogaine and 5-MEO DMT. After surviving a traumatic brain injury from an explosion in Afghanistan, he had been struggling with dizziness, light sensitivity, and the aftereffects of the injury for years. Finally, he decided to try Ibogaine treatment through Ambio Life Sciences. After the treatment, he experienced a complete resolution of his symptoms, including the ability to go outside without sunglasses and no longer needing a cane. This personal experience highlights the potential benefits of psychedelic therapy in healing and restoring quality of life for individuals with brain injuries.
The Profound Impact of Ibogaine: Dissolving the Ego and Overcoming Self-Criticism
The podcast episode explores the transformative power of Ibogaine for personal growth and self-acceptance. The host discusses his own experience with Ibogaine, where he faced intense self-criticism and perfectionism. He describes the challenging process of surrendering to the Ibogaine experience and letting go of his own shadow. Through the process, he was able to separate self-criticism from self-hatred, leading to a more compassionate and accepting view of himself. This shift in perspective has positively influenced his leadership at MAPS (Multi-Disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and allowed for greater resilience and learning from mistakes. The episode highlights how Ibogaine can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-transformation.
The Profound Insights of 5-MeO-DMT: Embracing the Power of Creation
The podcast episode delves into the transformative effects of 5-MeO-DMT, a powerful psychedelic substance that induces a rapid dissolution of the ego. The host describes his own experience with 5-MeO-DMT as being blasted into the universe, feeling a sense of connection to all energy and experiencing the power of creation. He reflects on the ability to let go of control and surrender to the moment, finding freedom and an enhanced sense of hope. The episode highlights the profound insights and potential therapeutic benefits of 5-MeO-DMT in facilitating personal transformation and fostering a deep connection with the universe and one's own creative potential.
The Journey of Self-Discovery and Personal Healing in Psychedelic Therapies
The podcast episode explores the transformative effects of various psychedelic therapies, including Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. The host and his best friend share their personal experiences with these therapies, highlighting their ability to dissolve the ego, overcome self-criticism, and embrace the power of creation. These experiences have led to profound healing, personal growth, and a deeper connection to oneself and the universe. The episode emphasizes the potential of psychedelic therapy as a tool for self-discovery, healing traumatic brain injuries, and fostering personal transformation and resilience.
Potential of MDMA therapy to reduce trauma and promote healing
The podcast episode explores the potential of MDMA therapy for healing trauma and reducing recidivism. It focuses on the Conquered Prison Experiment and the Good Friday Experiment, both of which showed promising results in using psychedelics for transformative experiences. The discussion delves into the importance of post-therapy support and integration as well as the need to address both victims and perpetrators of crime. The episode also highlights the goal of globalizing access to psychedelics and MDMA therapy, with Iceland becoming a potential test case for a net zero trauma country.
Training therapists for the pilot study in Iceland
The summary describes the process of training therapists for the pilot study in Iceland. The training involves a combination of online and in-person sessions covering topics such as the treatment method, evaluation of therapists, and the history of psychedelics. The therapists will also have the opportunity to personally experience MDMA as part of their training. The summary emphasizes the importance of adherence to therapy and the inclusion of adherence raters to provide feedback. Once the training is complete, therapists will be prepared to work with patients in a controlled setting with adherence to the treatment manual.
The vision for a net zero trauma country
The podcast episode discusses the vision of creating a net zero trauma country, using Iceland as a potential test case. The idea is to reduce trauma and promote healing on a national level by integrating psychedelics into the carceral system and providing support for victims of crime, prisoners, prison guards, and police officers. The summary emphasizes the long-term nature of this vision, which may span over several decades. It highlights the importance of comprehensive training for therapists, obtaining permission for protocols, and conducting follow-up studies to assess the impact of psychedelics on recidivism rates.
Challenges in studying recidivism and overcoming previous research limitations
The summary addresses the challenges in studying recidivism and the need to address previous research limitations. It highlights the fraudulent nature of the Conquered Prison Experiment, pointing out discrepancies in the comparison of recidivism rates and the importance of conducting accurate and rigorous research. The summary also emphasizes the long-term nature of studying recidivism, as it requires tracking participants over extended periods of time. Overall, the podcast episode sheds light on the potential of psychedelics and MDMA therapy in reducing trauma and improving outcomes in the criminal justice system.
The Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, specifically using substances like MDMA, shows promise in treating mental health conditions such as PTSD. Current studies indicate that the combination of therapy and limited doses of psychedelics can lead to significant improvements in patients' well-being. Experts emphasize that it is not just the drugs themselves that are effective, but the therapy sessions that go along with them. A typical MDMA-assisted therapy program involves 42 hours of therapy, with three separate eight-hour sessions using MDMA one month apart. Additionally, there are 12 non-drug therapy sessions over the course of the treatment. This comprehensive approach aims to address the mental health crisis in America and help individuals overcome trauma.
Scaling Up Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Despite the promising results seen with psychedelic-assisted therapy, there are significant challenges in scaling up this form of treatment to a wider population. Currently, there is a shortage of trained therapists and a lack of accessibility for many individuals who could benefit from this therapy. To address this, the goal is to train approximately 25,000 therapists in the coming years. However, this number falls short given the estimated 13 million PTSD patients in America alone. To achieve significant impact, it is crucial to secure FDA approval for MDMA as a medicine for PTSD and explore the potential of other substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. Establishing numerous specialized psychedelic treatment centers that offer a wide range of psychedelic-assisted therapies is also essential. Additionally, efforts are being made to ensure insurance coverage for these treatments to make them more accessible to people in need.
The Importance of Legalization and Regulation
The movement towards the legalization and regulation of psychedelic substances is seen as a crucial step in the advancement of mental health care. Advocates argue that legalizing and regulating these drugs will ensure the availability of pure and safe substances, reducing the risks associated with contamination or unknown dosage. It will also allow for honest drug education and peer support, enabling individuals to make informed decisions and receive proper guidance during their psychedelic experiences. The creation of thousands of psychedelic treatment centers, where trained therapists are cross-trained in different substances, is envisaged to provide customized treatment programs for individuals. With widespread understanding and acceptance, along with the availability of insurance coverage, it is hoped that a large-scale reduction in the mental health crisis can be achieved over the coming decades.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the Founder & President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and this episode is all about his life and work. This episode is a holistic look at the point where traditional therapy meets psychedelics and how Doblin and his team have spent the last few decades appealing to the scientific community and lawmakers across the world.
Doblin gives us a fresh perspective on the mental health crisis and discusses his studies & experiments in Iceland. We cover his early professional life and what lead him to pursue the science of alternative medicines. Doblin believes that with psychedelic assisted therapy, the world could be trauma free by 2070.
Are you interested in learning more about this type of therapy? Shawn received his treatment here - https://ambio.life
