Navajo Peyote Use: Its Apparent Safety
American Journal of Psychiatry – December 01, 1971
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A compelling finding reveals that Navajo individuals using peyote, a mescaline-containing hallucinogen, experience remarkably low rates of emotional disturbances. In this population, traditional medicine practices may channel feelings evoked by the drug into positive, ego-strengthening experiences. With sample sizes reflecting community engagement and cultural integration, safeguards inherent in their spiritual beliefs help mitigate adverse reactions. This highlights how traditional practices can shape psychological outcomes in the context of psychedelics, offering insights for both botanical research and modern medicine.
Abstract
An American Indian religion uses significant quantities of peyote, a hallucinogenic plant containing mescaline. Since there have been many reports of serious emotional disturbance caused by similar drugs, the rate of such illness in this population was investigated. The rate was found to be very low, probably because the feelings evoked by the drug experience are channeled by church belief and practice into ego-strengthening directions and there are built-in safeguards against bad reactions.