Is Ayahuasca an Option for the Treatment of Crack Cocaine Dependence?
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – April 02, 2018
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca may offer a promising alternative for crack cocaine dependence treatment, as 75% of 40 participants reported reduced consumption after engaging in religious ceremonies. Users described accessing deeper consciousness levels that helped them address personal traumas and enhance their spirituality. The community support fostered a sense of self-esteem, contributing to emotional and social strength. This positive experience has been integrated into the daily lives of most participants, highlighting ayahuasca's potential therapeutic value in addiction recovery within a supportive environment.
Abstract
The low efficacy of crack cocaine addiction treatment available in Brazil has led Brazilian users to find alternatives to reduce drug consumption or even to reach abstinence. One of them is the use of entheogenic substances, like ayahuasca, an infusion obtained from two native plant species from the Amazon. The present report aimed to understand how crack cocaine users recover from drug addiction by consuming ayahuasca tea in a religious context. This is a qualitative study with a purposeful sample of 40 crack cocaine users, based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants reported that ayahuasca allowed them to access a consciousness dimension which enabled them to solve problems and traumas and reduce crack cocaine consumption. The religious ceremony increased the user's spirituality and the reception from the community gave them a sense of self-esteem, strengthening them in an emotional and social way. That positive experience has been incorporated into the daily routine of most participants. Findings indicate that ayahuasca, in a religious context, may have therapeutic value for crack cocaine dependence treatment.