Erika Dyck: Are We Living in a Psychedelic Renaissance?
Sep 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Explore the resurgence of psychedelic drugs like MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD and their potential to revolutionize mental healthcare. Learn about the history of psychedelics, tensions between indigenous communities and medical practitioners, and arguments against the war on drugs. Discover the importance of involving indigenous populations in discussions about psychedelic legalization and harm reduction, and the potential benefits and risks of a world where psychedelics are normalized. Dive into the concept of neurodiversity and its potential to transform mental health interventions, while also exploring tensions surrounding authenticity and appropriation of psychedelics.
The psychedelic renaissance is driven by a desire to help veterans and individuals suffering from PTSD and substance abuse, potentially leading to a transformation of the war on drugs.
Exploring the historical background of psychedelics and the work of Humphry Osmond, the podcast highlights the importance of embracing diversity and empathy in psychedelic research and understanding neurodiversity.
Deep dives
The Psychedelic Renaissance and Its Impact on the War on Drugs
The podcast episode discusses the current resurgence of interest in psychedelics, which is referred to as the psychedelic renaissance. This renewed interest is mainly driven by a desire to help veterans, victims of sexual violence, and individuals suffering from PTSD and substance abuse issues. The podcast suggests that the psychedelic renaissance may bring an end to the war on drugs as we know it. It explores the historical background of psychedelic research, highlighting the work of Humphry Osmond, who coined the term 'psychedelic' and conducted groundbreaking studies using LSD to help alcoholics. The episode also discusses the involvement of Bill W, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, in promoting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The podcast explores the current state of psychedelic research, tensions between indigenous communities and medical practitioners, and the potential benefits and risks of widespread psychedelic use.
The Complexity of the Psychedelic Renaissance
The podcast interview delves into the meaning and complexities of the term 'psychedelic renaissance' with a historian who has studied psychedelics for over 20 years. The term is seen as both a revival and an opportunity to reflect on the past. Lessons from the 1950s and 60s, when psychedelics were first used in various contexts, are examined. The podcast highlights the challenges faced during that period, such as understanding experiences, including those of indigenous communities, midwives, and spiritualists. The interviewee emphasizes the importance of resurrecting valuable aspects from the past and embracing a diverse landscape for experimentation. The legacy of Humphry Osmond, who coined the term 'psychedelic' and his contribution to the field, is discussed, particularly his focus on empathy and the potential benefits of psychedelics in understanding neurodiversity.
Psychedelics in Today's Culture and Their Role in Mental Health
The podcast delves into the reasons behind the current rise in interest in psychedelics, including substances like MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD. It explores their growing use in medical, therapeutic, and recreational contexts. The discussion touches upon the increasing tensions between indigenous communities and medical practitioners. It also questions whether the current interest in psychedelics is a reflection of our collective existential crisis and the search for answers beyond traditional psychiatric approaches. The podcast suggests that psychedelics represent a pathway for curiosity, thinking outside traditional norms, and embracing neurodiversity. It raises important questions about the medicalization of psychedelics and the need for a balanced perspective that goes beyond a pharmaceutical model.
Challenges and Hopes for a Psychedelic Future
The podcast episode explores the potential benefits and challenges of a world where psychedelics are normalized or legalized. It raises questions about harm reduction, the risks of collapsing faith into particular individuals, and the importance of integrating knowledge from underground users and marginalized communities. The episode highlights tensions around indigenous use and the need to consider diversity in psychedelic research and practice. The interviewee emphasizes the importance of careful consideration and caution to avoid compromising safety or overlooking risks. Overall, the podcast provides insights into the complex and evolving landscape of psychedelics and the ongoing discussions surrounding their place in society.
Over the past few episodes, I've been talking with people involved with what we at Reason are calling a psychedelic renaissance, or a rebirth of interest in substances long associated with the CIA and hippies and counterculture. Today's interest in these substances is mostly motivated by a desire to help veterans and victims of sexual violence who suffer from PTSD and related conditions, including substance abuse. The psychedelic renaissance may well sound the death knell for the war on drugs, at least in its current form.
So it makes sense that today's guest is a historian who studies the man who coined the term psychedelic.
Erika Dyck is a professor at the University of Saskatchewan who studies the history of psychedelics with a special interest in the legacy of Humphry Osmond, the British-born psychiatrist who gave Aldous Huxley his first dose of mescaline, and conducted pathbreaking work using LSD to help alcoholics stop drinking. Among Osmond's best-known patients was Bill W., the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Reason sat down with Dyck at the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference held in Denver this June, where a reported 13,000 people gathered to talk about all aspects of today's psychedelic renaissance. We talked about why drugs such as MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD are making a comeback; how tensions are rising between indigenous people and medical practitioners; and whether prohibitionists have finally lost the war on drugs.
