A Rave New World: the past, present, & future of psychedelic medicine
By: Jessica Samuels, Remi Lathrop, Siri Potluri
Get lost in the rabbit hole reading about the clinical research, legalization, and the eventual equitable integration of psychedelics back into society.
Many psychedelic materials were originally used for healing and ritual ceremonies by indigenous communities around the world. These substances were later synthesized in Western laboratories, and prescribed to patients suffering from an array of mental illnesses. To the dismay of researchers, psychiatrists, and patients alike, an inextricable bond was formed between psychedelics and the white counterculture movements of the 1960s. These movements effectively banned all research on psychedelics, and initiated the War on Drugs, along with many of the discriminatory legal policies we know all too well today. While several states and cities in the United States are in the process of decriminalizing psychedelics for psychiatric uses, the issue of legality is still a huge barrier to clinical research and therapeutic access. So here we are, fifty years later, with no research on psychedelics, treatment resistant chronic mental illness, discriminatory policing actions, and an ongoing and unrelenting militarized war on drugs. This sounds like a complete and utter mess, so you may be asking, what the heck do we do now? We believe that psychedelics used in psychotherapy have a powerful ability to free individuals from daily mental obstacles. We are committed to truthfully educating our readers, pushing those in control to ensure the future of psychedelics is equitable, and ultimately returning sacred substances to their rightful owners. Unfortunately we can’t spill all our secrets on the first page, so read on to learn more about the research, legalization, and the eventual equitable integration of psychedelics back into society. Our only warning to you, dear reader, is be careful. We wouldn’t want you falling too far down the rabbit hole, or would we?
Beautifully done— the tour through past, present and future works wonderfully. There are all kinds of gems in here, and new ways to think about psychadelic drug use and race… very impressive, and with a definite, coherent style and presentatio… great work! -Prof. Kelty
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