Exploring ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada
Qualitative interviews with 11 Indigenous participants of ayahuasca‑assisted ceremonial retreats indicated reductions in substance use and cravings, with eight reporting complete cessation of at least one substance at six‑month follow‑up. Participants attributed benefits to increased connectedness with self, others and nature/spirit, suggesting ayahuasca may offer therapeutic mechanisms distinct from conventional addiction treatments and merits further study.
Authors
- Philippe Lucas
- Kenneth Tupper
- Elena Argento
Published
Abstract
Introduction and AimsA previous observational study of ayahuasca‐assisted therapy demonstrated statistically significant reductions in self‐reported problematic cocaine use among members of an Indigenous community in Canada. This paper aims to qualitatively explore the impact of ayahuasca‐assisted therapy on addiction and other substance use‐related outcomes and elucidate the lived experiences of participants.Design and MethodsQualitative interviews were conducted with 11 adult Indigenous participants of the ayahuasca‐assisted ‘Working with Addiction and Stress’ ceremonial retreats (June–September 2011). Semi‐structured interviews assessed experiences of participants following the retreats at 6‐month follow up. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted.ResultsNarratives revealed that the retreats helped participants identify negative thought patterns and barriers related to their addiction in ways that differed from conventional therapies. All participants reported reductions in substance use and cravings; eight participants reported complete cessation of at least one substance at follow up. Increased connectedness with self, others and nature/spirit was described as a key element associated with reduced substance use and cravings.Discussion and ConclusionsThis analysis expands upon prior quantitative results highlighting the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca‐assisted therapy and provides important contextual insights into why ayahuasca‐assisted therapy may have been beneficial for members of an Indigenous community seeking to address their problematic use of substances. Given limited efficacy of conventional treatments for resolving addiction issues, further research should investigate the role of ayahuasca and other psychedelic‐assisted therapies in enhancing connectedness and other key factors that may improve well‐being and reduce harmful substance use.
Research Summary of 'Exploring ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada'
Introduction
Indigenous populations in Canada experience disproportionately high rates of mental health and substance use problems linked to historical and ongoing colonial harms, social marginalisation and disrupted cultural continuity. Conventional addiction treatments have achieved limited success in many Indigenous settings, prompting interest in alternative, culturally congruent approaches. Ayahuasca, an Amazonian plant brew, has been used ceremonially and is increasingly investigated in clinical and non-clinical contexts for its potential to reduce problematic substance use and improve psychological well-being. Prior work by the study team included an observational evaluation of ayahuasca-assisted retreats in a rural Coast Salish community that found statistically significant reductions in self-reported cocaine use and improvements in well-being; however, the mechanisms and lived experience underlying those quantitative changes remained unclear. This paper aims to explore participants’ lived experiences of the ayahuasca-assisted ‘Working with Addiction and Stress’ ceremonial retreats to better understand how the intervention affected substance use, cravings and psychosocial well-being. By analysing semistructured interviews conducted at six-month follow up, Argento and colleagues sought to elucidate processes—such as changes in connectedness, self-understanding and relationships—that might explain reductions in problematic substance use reported in their earlier observational study.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
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- APA Citation
Argento, E., Capler, R., Thomas, G., Lucas, P., & Tupper, K. W. (2019). Exploring ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada. Drug and Alcohol Review, 38(7), 781-789. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12985
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