Alcohol depresses and dulls people, psychedelics, on the other hand, help on the journey of self-discovery. Yet alcohol is legal and psychedelics are banned. Is there something wrong here?

Soul, open up

Drugs is a term that many people grasp at when they hear it and are convinced that it only brings death and destruction. Of course, drug addiction can be devastating, but it is necessary to distinguish between "drugs" - at least between the so-called soft and hard ones. Indeed, we can probably agree that there is a difference if someone uses tobacco, alcohol, or even marijuana, or heroin or cocaine. Equally, it is appropriate to focus on the specific effects, as it is substances in the psychedelic category that can be helpful to a person (and their mental state). Psychedelics by their very nature do not meet the definition of a hard drug - they are not toxic, their use is not addictive and they have therapeutic uses. The term 'psychedelics' itself, in its original Greek form, refers to the 'opening of the soul'. Their ingestion can therefore be followed by altered states of consciousness, hallucinations, and also by 'de-possession', i.e. the removal of the boundaries of the perception of one's own ego. As they are classified as hallucinogens, they also help with processing long-suppressed emotions or deep-seated memories.

The desire to induce a change in consciousness has been inherent in humans since time immemorial. Psychedelics have been used in religious ceremonies and rituals in the distant past and have been regarded as an imaginary means to connect with God (whatever that may be). Psychoactive substances - and psychedelics in particular - are part of almost every religious tradition," confirms Christian Greer, a leading expert on psychedelic spirituality at Yale University.

Spirituality

Although people in the civilized world today do not practice the ritualistic practices that were common in previous cultures, this does not mean that psychedelics have become less important. It is not necessary to follow a particular religion to benefit from the positive effects of these substances. It may be that today's modern and hectic times need psychedelics "like salt" - for the spiritual aspect and the "mystical experience" so to speak. Yes, this is what many users (especially of higher doses) often talk about - and studies show that this experience can indeed have a profound and lasting effect (in a positive sense) on human behaviour and attitudes. It is no coincidence, then, that those who have gone through this experience end up radically changing their relationships with loved ones, themselves, and, for believers, with God.

Photo: Adobe Stock

Drug destruction or help?

However, besides the spiritual level, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics cannot be overlooked. However, even though there are more and more studies showing that psychedelics can be helpful in the treatment of, for example, chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc., they are still negatively labelled. Yes, sometimes that happens, but we have evidence that they are also drugs that can bring people to their senses," says Michael Pollan, author of a book on the effects of psychedelics on the human psyche.

The fact that psychedelics were banned in the US in the late 1960s and classified as drugs without therapeutic use by a UN convention since the 1970s - a classification that still applies in the Czech Republic - undoubtedly plays a part in the rejection of psychedelics. Nevertheless, a number of countries (Australia, Canada, some US states) have gradually legalised the use of psychedelics in various types of treatment - and in Oregon, for example, they already allow the therapeutic administration of psilocybin, a substance contained in, for example, lysohlavones, in specialised facilities. But the Czech Republic is not lagging behind - the therapeutic use of psychedelics is being explored by the Psyon clinic, the first facility of its kind in Europe to offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Photo: Adobe Stock

If the "psychedelic age" is approaching, it is hard to say. But if psychedelics can benefit us in so many ways, becoming a psychonaut might be worthwhile. If nothing else, at least it's easier than being an astronaut and exploring space. Although - after all, it is through psychedelics that a whole new universe can be discovered - our own, inner one.