Psychedelic medicalization, public discourse, and the morality of ego dissolution

Scientific research on psychedelic substances, though presented as objective, often embeds moral and political claims in public discourse. This article examines how popular media in the United States and the United Kingdom portray psychedelic medicine as naturalizing specific moral and political orientations—such as neoliberal and anti-authoritarian agency—as healthy and pharmacological. The analysis responds to scholarly debates about the overlap of scientific knowledge and moral discourse, tracing how psychedelics are framed as ego-dissolving medicines.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Emerging from a diverse and long history of shamanic and religious cultural practices, psychedelic substances are increasingly being foregrounded as medicines by an assemblage of scientific research groups, media institutions, government drug authorities, and patient and consumer populations. Considering scientific studies and recent popular media associated with the medicalization of psychedelic substances, this article responds to scholarly debates over the imbrication of scientific knowledge and moral discourse. It contends that, while scientific research into psychedelic medicine presents itself as amoral and objective, it often reverts to moral and political claims in public discourse. We illustrate how psychedelic medicine discourse in recent popular media in the United States and the United Kingdom is naturalizing specific moral and political orientations as pharmacological and healthy. The article traces how psychedelic substances have become ego-dissolving medicines invested with neoliberal and anti-authoritarian agency.