Ethnopsychedelic therapy for alcoholics: Observations in the peyote ritual of the Native American Church

The peyote ritual of the Native American Church may offer therapeutic benefits for alcoholics, based on observations of participants. The ritual's structured setting, group support, and the psychedelic experience itself appear to contribute to reduced drinking and improved social functioning among some attendees. The authors suggest that the combination of spiritual context and pharmacological effects of peyote can facilitate introspection and behavioral change, though they note that outcomes vary and the ritual is not a universal cure. The observations indicate potential for integrating elements of such ethnopsychedelic practices into alcoholism treatment, but controlled studies are lacking.

Study at a glance

Abstract

(1976). Ethnopsychedelic Therapy for Alcoholics: Observations In the Peyote Ritual of the Native American Church. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 8, Innovative Approached to Drug Abuse Treatment, pp. 215-221.