Hallucinogens and Shamanism: A Brief Article Barre VT

The use of psychoactive drugs was studied in the 1960s by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert who looked at LSD and psilocybin who studied shamanic teachings and practices around the globe. These shamanic traditions involve non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by a variety of methods including ingesting hallucinogenic plants, but also drumming, fasting, wilderness vision questing, use of sweat lodges and others.

Central Vermont
(802) 223-4156
100 Hospitality Drive
Berlin, VT
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Detoxification, Buprenorphine Services
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Pregnant/postpartum women, Women, Men, DUI/DWI offenders, Criminal justice clients

Data Provided by:
Baart Behavioral Health Services
(802) 223-2003
300 Granger Road
Berlin, VT
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Detoxification
Types of Care
Hospital inpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Pregnant/postpartum women

Data Provided by:
Healthcare/Rehabilitation Services
(802) 886-4500
390 River Street
Springfield, VT
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Women, DUI/DWI offenders
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services
(802) 295-3031
49 School Street
Hartford, VT
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Buprenorphine Services
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Men, DUI/DWI offenders
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Washington County Youth Service Bureau
(802) 229-9151
38 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Pregnant/postpartum women, Criminal justice clients

Data Provided by:
Clara Martin Center
(802) 728-4466
11 Main Street
Randolph, VT
Hotline
(800) 639-6360
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Women, DUI/DWI offenders, Criminal justice clients
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Tri-County Substance Abuse Services
(802) 748-3181
2225 Portland Street
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Hotline
(802) 748-1682
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Buprenorphine Services
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Pregnant/postpartum women, Women, DUI/DWI offenders
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Counseling Service of Addison County
(802) 388-6751
89 Main Street
Middlebury, VT
Hotline
(802) 388-7641
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Seniors/older adults, Women, Men, DUI/DWI offenders
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired, Spanish

Data Provided by:
Data Provided by:

Hallucinogens and Shamanism: A Brief Article

In the western area, many drugs are highly refined and attempted excessively or habitually, in ways that are addictive and harmful. However, in traditional societies powerful mind-active plants are consumed ritually for therapeutic purposes or for transcending normal, everyday reality. In this article I will look in detail at the ritual use of mind-active drugs for therapeutic mind-expansion as part of shamanic traditions in comparison to the modern abuse of pharmaceutical drugs as part of drug addictions and dependencies.

The use of psychoactive drugs was studied in the 1960s by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert who looked at LSD and psilocybin who studied shamanic teachings and practices around the globe. These shamanic traditions involve non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by a variety of methods including ingesting hallucinogenic plants, but also drumming, fasting, wilderness vision questing, use of sweat lodges and others.

Metzner notes that indigenous people have a profound knowledge of plants and herbs and their effects on the body and mind and are well able to distinguish harmful from beneficial medicines. For this reason the vision-inducing plants that have a tradition of shamanic usage are much more likely to be safe, in contrast to newly discovered and synthesized drugs, the use of which may often involve unknown long-term risks.

Western psychotherapy and indigenous shamanism use similar psychoactive substances for healing and obtaining knowledge (call...

Click here to read the rest of this article from Sober Recovery


Featured Facilities