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It is said that everybody has their own type of medicine that works for them, however on certain occasions not all of these medicines are prescribed and many strongly oppose for this type of medicine to be used. John Lennon was one of the many who used un-prescribed medicine. Lennon and many others agree that the use of hallucinogenic drugs peacefully cleared their mind and made them understand what they meant to the world and connected them to everything around them in a deeper level. Which lead to the creation of the well-known Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimension’s”. No medicine had ever helped them achieve that inner peace and understanding that they were looking for until they tried hallucinogens in a medicinal way. After what is known as the “hippie era” Hallucinogenic drugs were made illegal and societies view went from the drug that made a person peaceful and lovable to the drug that was repugnant and awfully dangerous. Although hallucinogens are considered dangerous drugs not to be dabbled with by the average person, it has recently been proven to work as a successful therapy proving that they are safe and raising the question if they should be recognized as a way of therapy. Many would say that simply entertaining the idea of having hallucinogenic drugs associated with therapy is probably the work of another idealist. That hallucinogenic drugs are far too dangerous to be used as medicine and may addict patients receiving the treatment. Another theory would be that that it’s another hoax to endorse drugs such as LSD. After hallucinogenic drugs were made illegal society wrapped its mind around it being dangerous and morally wrong to consume ... ... middle of paper ... ...delic therapy has greater outcomes than traditional therapies in different situations why is it not considered as a way of therapy? Barter,J.(2000).Hallucinogens. San Diego,CA:Lucent. “By the numbers: Psychedelic therapy.” Issues and Controversies. Facts on file news services, (11 July 2011). Web.19 Feb.2014 “Key events in the history of psychedelic therapy(sidebar).” Issues and controversies. Facts on file news services, (11 July 2011). Web.19 Feb.2014. Monroe,J.(2000).Drug dangers: Lsd, pcp and hallucinogens. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. Robbins,P.R. The drug library: Hallucinogens Springfield, NJ: Enslow. Slater, L. (2012, April 20). How psychedelic drugs can help patients face death. The New York times. Retrived from http://www.nytimes.com
Psychedelic drugs were an icon of the 1960s, its role embedded within the rising counterculture in response to the economic, social, and political turmoil throughout the United States. As a means to impose a central power and control social order, federal authorities were quick to ban the recreational and medical use of psychedelic drugs without consideration of its potential benefits. The recent state laws on the legalization of marijuana in Oregon and Colorado with others soon to follow, is a sure sign of an eventual collective shift in the perceptions of psychedelic drugs. Not only does Daniel Pinchbeck document his reflections on the personal consumption of psychedelic drugs in his unconventional novel Breaking Open the Head, he also advances several assertions on modern Western society in his exploration of polarized attitudes on this controversial topic.
In 1960 professor Timothy Leary urged people to try the drug LSD. Leary thought that it could help people therapeutically and he saw many benefits in the usage of the drug. LSD was first available in tablet form but when it became illegal people began to use it in other forms such as liquid acid which was taken orally, through the eyes or mucous membrane or mixed with other drugs such as marijuana.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine(DMT) is a psychoactive chemical in the tryptamine family, which causes intense visuals and strong psychedelic mental affects when smoked, injected, snorted, or when swallowed orally (with an MAOI such as haramaline). DMT was first synthesized in 1931, and demonstrated to be hallucinogenic in 1956. It has been shown to be present in many plant genera (Acacia, Anadenanthera, Mimosa, Piptadenia, Virola) and is a major component of several hallucinogenic snuffs (cohoba, parica, yopo). It is also present in the intoxicating beverage ayahuasca made from banisteriopsis caapi. This drink inspired much rock art and paintings drawn on the walls of native shelters in tribal Africa- what would be called 'psychedelic' art today (Bindal, 1983). The mechanism of action of DMT and related compounds is still a scientific mystery, however DMT has been identified as an endogenous psychadelic- it is a neurotransmitter found naturally in the human body and takes part in normal brain metabolism. Twenty-five years ago, Japanese scientists discovered that the brain actively transports DMT across the blood-brain barrier into its tissues. "I know of no other psychedelic drug that the brain treats with such eagerness," said one of the scientists. What intrigued me were the questions, how and why does DMT alter our percep...
Psychedelics have always been a controversial subject in the world of drugs because they have the ability to alter one’s perception of reality. L.S.D, MDMA, and psilocybin are three of the main types of psychedelics on the drug market, all three of which are listed as schedule 1 by the DEA. A schedule 1 drug is considered to have a high addiction risk, has no medical value whatsoever, and is illegal to have in your possession. A schedule 2 drug is considered to have the potential for both medical purposes, and abuse. A schedule 3 drug is considered safe for medical use and can only be prescribed by a doctor. I however, believe that psychedelics should be reconsidered for at least schedule 2 as studies have shown an increase in the use of psychedelics in psychotherapy and can even help the terminally ill come to terms with their own deaths.
While hallucinogenic drugs have been used for centuries, it was not until the discovery by Western society of their mind-altering properties (Hofmann 1959; Stoll 1947; Delgado, Pedro L; Moreno, Francisco A) that these compounds began to be more widely used for treatment of mental disorders (see Abraham, Aldridge & Gogia 1996; Strassman 1995; Neill 1987; McGlothlin & Arnold 1971; Freedman 1968; Delgado, Pedro L; Moreno, Francisco A). Hallucinates are derived from plants or the fungus that grows on plants, the first recorded hallucination was a tossup between mental issues that were then used for a political push or the ergotamine during the Salem witch trails in 1962, far after that Albert Hofmann became the creator of LSD from ergotamine a chemical from the fungus ergot, in Switzerland 1938. From that time LSD has played a part in history, studies have shown that much has changed in the half-century since LSD was first used by psychiatrists and then found widespread recreational use in the 1960's and 70's. Modern psychiatry has embraced drugs that affect the same brain molecules that are tweaked by hallucinogens (Blakeslee,
Boyer, B., Boyer, R., & Basehart, H. 1973. Hallucinogens and Shamanism M. Hamer, Ed.. England: Oxford University Press.
In an attempt to synthesize my own personal academic area of interest, that is: the history of the psychedelic movement in twentieth century America, with the content of the Asian Religions course, I have elected to study the relationship between the influx of Buddhist philosophy and the psychedelic counter-culture movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The subject, although highly specific, has nonetheless generated intellectual interest substantial enough to warrant a sub-field of study, in terms of Buddhist/American History examination. This paper will focus on the thought of the main harbingers of this movement, specifically Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, and Dr. Timothy Leary. This study will also examine the corruptions of classical Buddhist philosophy wrought by these intellectuals concerned with integrating the psychedelic experience in an Eastern context. The connection between Buddhism and psychedelics in the American experience is a subject of contention because of the controversial associations of chemically altered perception as compared to traditional Bodhicitta, or the mind of enlightenment. The author Emma Layman, in her book Buddhism in America, asserts:
Hallucinogens should be illegal though because you cannot also predict the behavior of those using hallucinogens and could result in violent behavior. For other drugs, if someone wants to spend their time in an alternate state of mind, then that is an individual’s decision. Rather than making it illegal, governments should spread educational awareness about the effects and the consequences of these drugs. All the government should do is try and protect their citizens, but they do not have the power to override their
Unlike many other psychedelics, tryptamine psychedelics, such as DMT and 5 MeO DMT have the ability to place users in alternate realm where they will experience a sense of oneness with the universe. In addition, they both are capable of producing terrifying thoughts and the fear of losing control since they ‘’produce their effects through action at serotonin receptors in the brain’’. As can be seen in some of the stories, the users could experiences some terrifying and dark thoughts, while others get to encounter the best experience in their life. In term of the settings, individuals who used these drugs were either persuaded by their friends or by peer pressure. Additionally, the social construct around these cases are very similar, as they
Nichols, D. E., & Chemel, B. R. (2011). LSD and the serotonin system's effects on human
The history of psychopharmacology has included a lot of *oops*; a substance is used and thought to do one thing, only to find out it does something completely different. I find it interesting how many substances are used by humans before we fully understand how they work, and the potential risks of use. Sometimes the discovered effects are beneficial, but more often they have negative and dangerous side effects. Some of the most dangerous drugs of today, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates, started off in the most common, legal, and accessible products.
Psychedelic drugs are harmless when it comes to its use in modern medicine. If anything, psychedelic drugs could save more than harm. Through the small number of clinical studies that have been done on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy for people with mental disorders, every single one concluded with great promise in its role in modern medicine. The intense control that researchers put onto these studies such as who can participate, how drugs are administered, how the setting is set up, and the in depth follow ups, proves to show that in a controlled setting, abuse with this drug won’t happen. In terms of adverse long term effects after use of this drug, the data is nonexistent. The benefits of psychedelics used in psychotherapy outrageously
This passage comes from The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen. In this passage Matthiessen describes what he has learned from the experiences he had with hallucinogenic drugs, such as ayahuasca, LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin. He is concerned mostly with the spiritual nature of such drugs, and reveals that while drugs are always harmful, they can provide a starting point for spiritual growth.
In my opinion, I do not believe it’s a good idea for psychedelic drugs to be legal in any church. To me, this creates more harm than good. There is a lot of controversy, problems and speculation to any type of drug. I could not imagine the factors or problems associated with the church if psychedelics are legal for religious purposes. However, I am in support of drugs that are used and only used for medical purposes. For instance, some who has cancer or a psychological disorder, if certain drugs on the market help someone for a medical condition then absolutely, yes, I am support and all for it. What I am against are people who abuse drugs to begin with. Especially, those who individuals who have no medical condition whatsoever and should
Firstly, drug use is not a concept new to the twenty-first century. The use of psychedelic/hallucinogenic drugs results in perception-altering effects manifested as