Ayahuasca Users in Estonia: Ceremonial Practices, Subjective Long-Term Effects, Mental Health, and Quality of Life.
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 1, 2020 Helle Kaasik, Kairi Kreegipuu 31 citations
In Estonia, ayahuasca is used mainly in neoshamanic group ceremonies, with users motivated by spiritual development, self-knowledge, and spiritual experiences. A cross-sectional case-controlled study compared thirty ayahuasca users with thirty nonusers matched by gender, age, and education. Users reported mostly positive subjective consequences for their health and life, though some difficult experiences and adverse effects occurred. No abuse of or addiction to ayahuasca was found. Screening test indicators of depression and anxiety were lower in the ayahuasca-using group, and no deterioration of mental health was observed compared to nonusers. Participants perceive ayahuasca use as a spiritual practice with favorable outcomes and as a reasonably safe, self-limiting practice.