Psychedelic Emergencies: Is the New Psychedelic Revolution Really an Evolution?

An ASI live webinar event with Mariana Caplan, PhD and Roger Walsh, MD, PhD, recorded February 26, 2020. There is now enormous and still growing interest in plant medicines and psychedelics. A variety of drugs are now being used for purposes ranging from curiosity to psychotherapeutic, spiritual, personal exploration, creativity, and performance enhancement. Psychedelics are rapidly finding their way into mainstream disciplines such as medicine, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and end-of-life care. Clinicians and scientists are again doing sanctioned research and documenting the benefits of psychedelics for issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression, facing life-threatening illnesses and end-of-life care. And of course, they have become popular far outside mainstream institutions. Yet every light casts a shadow, and in the wake of this revolution, many have suffered. Medically, there are reports of psychological problems such as severe distress, even psychotic breaks and suicides.

Interpersonally, there have been unethical behaviors, abuses of power and sexuality, and carelessness, misjudgments, and inadequate training on the part of those who share/administer the medications.

Many of these stories remain “in the dark” as shame prevents people from sharing their difficulties and tragedies. Yet it is important to bring them into the light of awareness to inform discerning use of these powerful substances. Yes, used wisely, psychedelics can offer remarkable benefits, but how to ensure that they are used wisely? Join Mariana Caplan, PhD and Roger Walsh, MD, PhD as they delve into the ethical, personal, and psychological issues that we need to consider in order to ensure safe and fruitful explorations of psychedelics as they reemerge into Western culture.