Hallucinogens and Shamanism: A Brief Article Butler PA

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.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(724) 477-5033
325 New Castle Road
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Detoxification, Halfway house, Buprenorphine Services
Types of Care
Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days), Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Seniors/older adults, Men

Data Provided by:
Ellen O''Brien Gaiser Addiction Center
(724) 287-8205
165 Old Plank Road
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Residential short-term treatment (30 days or less), Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days)
Special Programs/Groups
Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders

Data Provided by:
Irene Stacy CMHC
(724) 287-0791
112 Hillvue Drive
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents, Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders

Data Provided by:
Discovery House
(724) 779-2010
301 Smith Drive
Cranberry Township, PA
Hotline
(724) 779-2010
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Methadone Maintenance
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Persons with HIV/AIDS, Pregnant/postpartum women, Women

Data Provided by:
Butler Regional Recovery Program
(724) 226-7065
1301 Carlisle Street
Natrona Heights, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
DUI/DWI offenders

Data Provided by:
Ellen O''Brien Gaiser Addiction Center
(724) 285-2293
325 New Castle Road
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient

Data Provided by:
Butler Regional Recovery Program
(724) 284-4357
911 East Brady Street
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Detoxification, Buprenorphine Services
Types of Care
Hospital inpatient, Outpatient, Partial hospitalization/day treatment
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Foundations Medical Services LLC
(724) 431-2006
124 Hollywood Drive
Butler, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse , Methadone Maintenance
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Persons with HIV/AIDS, Pregnant/postpartum women, Women, Men

Data Provided by:
Gateway North Hills
(724) 776-4844
1659 Route 228
Cranberry Township, PA
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient, Partial hospitalization/day treatment
Special Programs/Groups
Adolescents
Language Services
ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

Data Provided by:
Family Services of Western PA
(724) 226-0664
321 East Fifth Avenue
Tarentum, PA
Hotline
(888) 222-4200
Services Provided
Substance abuse
Types of Care
Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups
Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Women, Men, Criminal justice clients

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