The Attack on Psychedelic Therapy and Its Slow Recovery

Practitioners of psychedelic therapy must understand the historical context of the War on Drugs, which was motivated by racism and has devastated Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Richard Louis Miller provides a detailed historical account of this unjustifiable war and its impact, then traces the history of psychedelic research. He urges political vigilance to prevent psychedelic medicines from being barred again from scientific inquiry and therapeutic use.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To make psychedelic therapy accessible, equitable, and culturally informed, practitioners need to be well grounded in the historical conditions that surround and inform our conscious and unconscious relationships to psychedelic medicines and the mental health system in general. The history and underlying intent of the War on Drugs are essential context for anyone interested in psychedelic therapy. In this chapter, Richard Louis Miller provides an overview of the devastating impact of this unjustifiable “war,” particularly for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Miller’s detailed historical account highlights the racist motivations behind the establishment and enforcement of drug policy in the United States. Miller then offers a brief history of psychedelic research and encourages ongoing political vigilance to ensure that psychedelic medicines are no longer barred from scientific inquiry and personal, communal, and therapeutic use.