natureraver
Greenlighter
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
- Messages
- 24
could you please elaborate on RC's? or RC?
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what will happen to the integrity of society if psychedelics are accepted?
- Thread starter AlphaMethylPhenyl
- Start date
I have personally witnessed the radical effects psychedelics can have on depression, OCD and migraines. I even think that medically limiting all of these drugs would be a mistake. Providing pharmaceutical grade drugs in the proper dose ranges will prevent most of the problems encountered with improper dosing. The actual harm the most illegal of the tryptamines (LSD, Psilocybin and DMT) have caused do not even add up to the number of deaths caused in Europe last year by tourists jumping and falling off balconies while intoxicated on vacation.
My only experience is with tryptamine based recreational tripping at low, medium and strong doses. There has never been a medically supervised session and yet invariably people return with a realization of the importance of their personal relationships over material possessions and wealth as well as major reductions in their levels of stress. This is not to say anyone decided that wealth or possessions were not necessary, it’s just that they will not make you happy by themselves.
I have also seen several bad trips happen in recreation environments and even amongst newbies. In every case the tripper came back in fine shape. Most have learned more about themselves from the experience and are better off. The others probably did learn something but were not ready to integrate at that time.
As far as society getting better or worse, the answer is absolutely better. While it’s certainly not going to convert to some Utopian Socialist society, there will certainly be an increase in people’s level of satisfaction with their lives.
My only experience is with tryptamine based recreational tripping at low, medium and strong doses. There has never been a medically supervised session and yet invariably people return with a realization of the importance of their personal relationships over material possessions and wealth as well as major reductions in their levels of stress. This is not to say anyone decided that wealth or possessions were not necessary, it’s just that they will not make you happy by themselves.
I have also seen several bad trips happen in recreation environments and even amongst newbies. In every case the tripper came back in fine shape. Most have learned more about themselves from the experience and are better off. The others probably did learn something but were not ready to integrate at that time.
As far as society getting better or worse, the answer is absolutely better. While it’s certainly not going to convert to some Utopian Socialist society, there will certainly be an increase in people’s level of satisfaction with their lives.
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[éS]Infinite
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2007
- Messages
- 429
It depends on what form this acceptance occurs in. Would it be acceptable for people to abuse these substances on a regular basis, or for people to use them as entheogens for spiritual purposes, or just medically to manage mental illnesses like PTSD or end-of-life anxiety?
In many cases psychedelics can be useful tools in developing a more humble, forgiving, and loving approach in life, but of course when abused can lead to an individual becoming self-centered, paranoid, or withdrawn.
I've learned from psychedelics that despite the path society follows in approaching this class of mind-altering compounds, the individuals who open themselves up to these experiences will always exist and in some way, large or small, be influential upon society and their outlook on these compounds. Just as society influences the psychedelic experience in many ways, the psychedelic experience influences society, creating a symbiosis.
In many cases psychedelics can be useful tools in developing a more humble, forgiving, and loving approach in life, but of course when abused can lead to an individual becoming self-centered, paranoid, or withdrawn.
I've learned from psychedelics that despite the path society follows in approaching this class of mind-altering compounds, the individuals who open themselves up to these experiences will always exist and in some way, large or small, be influential upon society and their outlook on these compounds. Just as society influences the psychedelic experience in many ways, the psychedelic experience influences society, creating a symbiosis.
...What?
red_bandit
Greenlighter
This is a great thread. Thanks, @Ho-Chi-Minh, for starting it.
I think it will take a long time (especially here in the US) but I think that some kind of psychedelics - perhaps "next gen" ones that don't even exist yet - will be made available. Probably first for medical treatments and then OTC for recreation/self-exploration purposes. What MAPS is doing, for example, is the first step. It was a HUGE deal in the neuroscience community when the US gov't lifted the ban on using hallucinogens and empathogens in NIH-funded research. These compounds are so powerful and their effects so intriguing, we couldn't wait to get our hands on them! We can use them to study how the brain works and to develop new treatments for mental illness/CNS disorders. Once safety is established and regulation systems put in place, we'll see hallucinogens/empathogens on the market.
I can imagine a therapist discussing the trauma that led to severe PTSD and social anxiety, their memories, how they felt, the triggers that set off symptoms and then being told to explore that again under the influence of a hallucinogen, perhaps allowing the easier dissociation of the traumatic event (for example, a bomb) from its context (the market where it exploded) so that being in crowds no longer is a trigger. That kind of thing.
I'd like to see something like a licensing process to be able to use them recreationally. If people are educated about the risks, how to ensure public safety, and how to MAXIMIZE the experience for enlightenment, I do think humans would benefit tremendously.
tl;dr...
I think it will take a long time (especially here in the US) but I think that some kind of psychedelics - perhaps "next gen" ones that don't even exist yet - will be made available. Probably first for medical treatments and then OTC for recreation/self-exploration purposes. What MAPS is doing, for example, is the first step. It was a HUGE deal in the neuroscience community when the US gov't lifted the ban on using hallucinogens and empathogens in NIH-funded research. These compounds are so powerful and their effects so intriguing, we couldn't wait to get our hands on them! We can use them to study how the brain works and to develop new treatments for mental illness/CNS disorders. Once safety is established and regulation systems put in place, we'll see hallucinogens/empathogens on the market.
I can imagine a therapist discussing the trauma that led to severe PTSD and social anxiety, their memories, how they felt, the triggers that set off symptoms and then being told to explore that again under the influence of a hallucinogen, perhaps allowing the easier dissociation of the traumatic event (for example, a bomb) from its context (the market where it exploded) so that being in crowds no longer is a trigger. That kind of thing.
I'd like to see something like a licensing process to be able to use them recreationally. If people are educated about the risks, how to ensure public safety, and how to MAXIMIZE the experience for enlightenment, I do think humans would benefit tremendously.
tl;dr...
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You can already answer this question by looking at the world in the 60s, if you are asking about generic "integration".
The only way to "integrate" drugs into society is with strong harm reduction models with measured doses, legal, etc.
What would happen if it was done in a harm reduction model, it would look much the way it does today, only safer.
The only way to "integrate" drugs into society is with strong harm reduction models with measured doses, legal, etc.
What would happen if it was done in a harm reduction model, it would look much the way it does today, only safer.
its an interesting idea, but I think a lot of people wouldn't be able to handle it, even people who know what's going to happen and are expecting it can have a really bad time. The unpredictability would really be a problem, there's always going to be bad trips and I think a lot of people would be scared and not willing to risk it.