Ceremonial ‘Plant Medicine’ use and its relationship to recreational drug use: an exploratory study
This qualitative interview study (n=15) investigated how plant medicine facilitators differentiate the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as psilocybin and ayahuasca from recreational drug use and found that they define their practice through a “higher purpose” such as the healing of childhood traumas or treating of addiction that lays particular emphasis on ritual and integration as essential to this process.
Authors
- Dorsen, C.
- Palamar, J.
- Shedlin, M. G.
Published
Abstract
Background
The ceremonial use of psychoactive/hallucinogenic plant based drugs, such as ayahuasca, psilocybin and others, is a growing trend in the United States (US) and globally. To date, there has been little research documenting how many people are using psychoactive substances in this context, who the users are, what benefits/risks exist in the use of these drugs and the relationship between ceremonial drug use and recreational drug use. In this paper we describe a cohort of plant medicine facilitators in the US and explore how they differentiate plant medicine use from recreational drug use.
Methods
Using modified ethnography, individual interviews were conducted in 2016 with 15 participants who are currently facilitating plant medicine ceremonies in the US. Descriptive content analysis was performed to discover themes and to inform a larger mixed-method study.
Results
Ceremonial drug use was seen by participants as a natural healing and treatment modality used in the context of community and ritual. Three main themes were identified relating to participants’ differentiation between ceremonial plant medicine use and recreational drug use: (1) participants see a clear delineation between plant medicine use and recreational drug use; (2) plant medicine is seen as a potential treatment for addiction, but concerns exist regarding potential interference with recovery; and (3) plant medicine use may influence recreational use.
Conclusions
More research is needed on who is using plant medicine, motivators for use, perceived and real risks and benefits of plant medicine use and harm reduction techniques regarding safe ingestion.
Research Summary of 'Ceremonial ‘Plant Medicine’ use and its relationship to recreational drug use: an exploratory study'
Introduction
Psychoactive, plant-based hallucinogens such as ayahuasca and psilocybin have a long history of ceremonial use worldwide and are increasingly discussed in the United States both in mainstream media and academic research. Clinical interest has resurged over the past decade, with trials suggesting potential benefits for conditions such as depression, PTSD and addiction, alongside media reports of self-formed ceremonial groups led by facilitators. Despite this, little is known about who participates in ceremonial plant medicine use in Western contexts, what motivates them, what risks and benefits they perceive, and how ceremonial use relates to recreational drug use. This exploratory study aimed to describe a cohort of US-based plant medicine facilitators and to examine how they distinguish ceremonial plant medicine use from recreational drug use. Using qualitative methods, the investigators sought to identify core themes about purpose, ritual, community and perceived relationships with recreational substance use to inform a larger mixed-methods study.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topics
- APA Citation
Dorsen, C., Palamar, J., & Shedlin, M. G. (2019). Ceremonial ‘Plant Medicine’ use and its relationship to recreational drug use: an exploratory study. Addiction Research & Theory, 27(2), 68-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2018.1455187
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Mayer, C. E., LeBaron, V. T., Acquaviva, K. D. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2021)
Palhano-Fontes, F., Gorman, I., Nielson, E. M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2021)
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