Psychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment

Article


Anderson, K., Elf, P. and Isham, A. 2024. Psychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment. International Journal of Drug Policy. 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104571
TypeArticle
TitlePsychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment
AuthorsAnderson, K., Elf, P. and Isham, A.
Contributors
Contact personAnderson, K.
Abstract

Despite the surge of interest in psychedelic research in the past decade, largely due to the promise of psychedelics for improving mental health outcomes, there has been comparatively little discussion about the social and environmental consequences of psychedelic drug use. While there is growing evidence to suggest psychedelics could foster a greater connection to the natural world and improve social relationships, such positive repercussions are far from guaranteed. In this commentary, we focus on LSD, psilocybin and especially MDMA, and outline three insights we came to see as crucial to creating beneficial outcomes: 1) the importance of setting and rituals, 2) the establishment of boundaries, and 3) understanding the long-term commitment required. These insights are grounded in the history of psychedelics, which is intimately intertwined with ritualised use, yet the process of commercialisation of these substances threatens to strip away important contextual factors. Creating boundaries around when, how and with whom psychedelics are used have been found to protect recreational users from harm and could also be instrumental in steering commercial interests to align with socio-environmental goals. Finally, far from being a ‘quick fix’ for social or environmental problems, the use of psychedelics requires sustained engagement to integrate the insights obtained. Whereas we remain optimistic about the transformative potential of psychedelics for social relationships and the environment, we also emphasise the need for a more cautious, considered approach if we are to harness the benefits and minimise the challenges of psychedelic drug use.

KeywordsMDMA; LSD; Psilocybin; Psychedelics; Setting; Rituals
Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
13 Climate action
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
Sustainability
Research GroupCentre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR)
PublisherElsevier
JournalInternational Journal of Drug Policy
ISSN0955-3959
Electronic1873-4758
Publication dates
PrintNov 2024
Online05 Sep 2024
Publication process dates
Submitted22 Apr 2024
Accepted22 Aug 2024
Deposited17 Sep 2024
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104571
PubMed ID39241438
Web of Science identifierMEDLINE:39241438
WOS:001308803900001
LanguageEnglish
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