Completing the Circle: A History of Psychedelics and Harm Reduction.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences August 8, 2024 Erika Dyck, James Dixon 2 citations
Harm reduction, formally recognized in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS crisis, has earlier roots in psychedelic use. In the 1950s and 1960s, early clinical psychedelic researchers incorporated people-first risk management approaches. During the war on drugs, community-based organizations at music festivals provided harm reduction for those using psychedelics. The Native American Church exemplifies Indigenous traditions that combine psychedelic substances with spirituality and healing in community settings to promote wellness. The authors argue that psychedelic risk management has deep historical roots in biomedical, cultural, and Indigenous communities, offering lessons for sustainable strategies going forward.