Cultural Hallucinations and the Illusion of the Psychedelic Renaissance

 

Although psychedelics have been present in cultures around the world for thousands of years, they have a comparatively short and fluctuating history in the West. Currently, there is a growing push to use psychedelics as medicines for conditions such as depression, PTSD, end-of-life anxiety, and addiction. This push for legalization is often referred to as a “Psychedelic Renaissance”, which promises to revolutionize the way we handle mental health conditions. However, after the multi-decade War on Drugs, it can be difficult to balance the contrasting fear and enthusiasm surrounding psychedelics. This talk will give an anthropological overview of what psychedelics are and how they are being re-understood as medicines in Western culture. By questioning some of the promises of the Psychedelic Renaissance, the audience will be encouraged to reflect on the deeper problems of our culture as well as how we relate to each other and the world around us.