Transcendental Drug Addiction

Blyer’s article was published in Psychology Today. Psychology Today is a magazine that is published every two months, and focuses on psychology, neuroscience, alternative medicine, sexuality, and relationships. The fact that Blyer’s article was published in Psychology Today establishes that Blyer is a reputable source. Within the article Blyer also supplies the reader with a brief summary and the history of certain psychedelics that are mentioned within the article. Blyer states, “hallucinogenic substances have been used by indigenous people for millennia in the contexts of ritual and healing, though not until Hofmann’s revelation were they subject to widespread scientific inquiry” (Blyer 62).

1a. List the 13 principles of effective drug addiction treatment in your textbook. As much as

Psychedelics have become so common in America that 8% of high school seniors report having used LSD [Nation 1]. LSD is also known as “acid,” is a chemical compound lysergic acid diethylamide. The effects range from an altered state of reality to strong visual hallucinations. LSD first became popular in the 1960’s, seemingly overnight. Because it was such a new drug, it remained legal until 1966 [Riser]. Many thought of acid as a spiritual aid, and used it to meditate. It was often compared to the drugs peyote and mescaline that were used in Native American religious ceremonies [Riser]. During this time period there were social reforms taking place all over the country.

Although the English word “drug” was only coined in the early 1300’s, humans have been partaking in the recreational use of substances since prehistoric times. Hallucinogens, alcohol, and opium existed before 6,000 BC; alcohol and tobacco use were common in the 1600’s ; and cocaine, LSD, marijuana, and heroin use rampaged in the last century despite harsh laws put in place.

The Atlantic article “Seeing Opportunity in Psychedelic Drugs,” by Matt Shiavenza, had several promising sources but alas no leads. Drenched in discouragement, disaffected, and suffocating in a sea of endless links, the Guardian article “Healing trip: How psychedelic drugs could help treat depression” by David Derbyshire, was the breath of sweet truth I’d been so desperately craving; pure objective data with direct in-citation links to universities’ and medical institutions’ research and journal publications. Finally, I knew the article was not delusive, but instead, based upon inalienable scientific knowledge.

When mentioning psychedelics, the majority of people think of hippies taking drugs and hallucinating. Even though psychedelics is connected with a negative view it can be a catalyst in psychological growth and a medicine that has the potential to help treat patients with mental disorders. Most people believe that mental disorders are rare and occurs in “other people”. In fact, mental disorders are a lot more common than people believe. Most families are often caught off guard when learning one of them has a mental illness. To many families, it can be physically and emotionally exhausting, and can make us feel vulnerable to the judgments of others.

Introduction - Use of psychoactive substances for recreational purposes is not a radically new social issue. In fact, history tells us that almost every society had their own pharmacopeia of herbs, potions, and substances that not only contributed to healing, but also allowed the user to escape reality (Schules 1992, 4-5). However, it is the contemporary use of psychoactive drugs purchased through illicit or illegal channels and used by persons neither prescribed nor in quantities larger than necessary that defines modern drug abuse (Robins 2006). Prior to World War I, substances like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were available in the major American cities, particularly those with active international ports. For instance, when Chinese immigrants were first imported to work in the mines and railroads during the early 1800s, they brought opium to America. It was the leisure class, who began to experiment with this drug, and, as in Europe, many major U.S. cities had so-called opium dens. In addition, there were a substantial number of "society women" who ended up addicted because their doctor prescribed this drug to deal with female histrionics or to "cure" an excessive sexual appetite (Johnson 2002). Within major cities, this problem began to spill over into other groups: prostitutes, child laborers, orphans, and even men and women of lower social classes seeking to escape the harshness of their lives (Courtwright 2002, 3-19). Between the widespread use and general

It is no secret that drug use has the ability to completely alter a person’s state of consciousness, whether it be through extreme euphoria, increased hyperactivity, pain relief or psychedelic hallucinations. Although many drugs are used for medical purposes, the global issue of recreational drug use is now being fronted as an extremely serious matter that is steadily on the uprise. Recreational drug use is often associated with negativity, addiction and as having serious physical and mental repercussions. One of the few class of drugs that is often associated with both positive and negative connotations are hallucinogens, otherwise known as “psychedelics”, which have powerful altering effects on ones sense of perception, brain function

Medical interest in psychedelic drugs has been renewed, but is it possible to overcome their negative stigma and association with counterculture to move forward with their potential medical promise? Psychedelic drugs are poised to be the next major mental breakthrough in health care, yet studying any type of illegal drug is often met with rejection, backlash, or tight regulations (Bushak, 2015). These drugs, if handled correctly, could potentially change the lives of millions of patients across America. Many would suggest that the risk is too high, but in which way do psychedelics present more risks than heavily addicting narcotics or alcohol? This treatment would allow thousands of individuals to manage pain levels, anxiety, and depression in a whole new manner. Legalizing psychedelic drugs for medical purposes would be beneficial to society because of their potential medicinal and therapeutic treatments that heavily outweigh the observed risks.

government over 700 billion dollars annually. A survey conducted by the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration regarding drug use and health reported “23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, only 2.6 million—11.2 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility” (1). Desperate to find solutions to treat substance abuse problems other than the often unsuccessful rehabilitation programs, researchers are now considering the use of psychedelic substances to treat these issues. This idea is not the first of its kind. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, American scientists studied the effects of LSD on over 40,000 people including its effects on alcohol use. However, because many of these hallucinogens are classified as Schedule I substances and other restrictions imposed by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), studies involving these drugs cannot be conducted easily within the United States (2). Fortunately, countries with more lax drug policies, such as Canada, allow for these substances to be studied. One such substance is

addicts on how religion can help individuals on their addictions, and how clergy members need

The most consumed stimulant drug in the world is caffeine, a dangerous thing for the human body, but is still yet used every day because it is in numerous forms of drinks and food such as medicine, tea, coffee, and many other things humans consume, which is why there should be an

Today in America a lot of young people experiment with illegal drugs. Some people try drugs for recreational purposes, others are addicted to drugs and can't survive without them. Usually it all starts from recreational purposes, and people who can not control their recreation become a drug addicts. There are many different types of drugs, but all drugs are similar in that they change one's understanding of the environment, feelings, senses and mood. Some drugs cause physical addiction, which means that after several tries of the particular drug, the body requires that chemical in order to function. Some drugs destroy lives; people use drugs so much that it changes their personality and acceptance of environment,

Drugs are not a new thing by any means and have been commonplace in most cultures at one point or another. Throughout the known history of the world humans have used drugs to provide mind and mood altering experiences. Evidence of the production of alcohol can be traced back to the description of a brewery in an Egyptian papyrus as early as 3500 B.C (Fort, J. 1969). On a seemingly primal level, humans have always had some incessant need to alter their state of consciousness. Whether it’s spinning around in a circle as a young child to feel dizzy or participating in some adrenaline fueling activity, people seek ways to change the way they feel. While the aforementioned activities are considered normal by most accounts, the end results are essentially no different from the use of drugs. Unlike spinning in circles, watching a scary movie or skydiving naked from airplane though, the use of drugs to create an altered state of consciousness has created a series of problems for societies.

Despite its similarities to other psychoactive stimulants caffeine is considered safe. Stephanie May stated that over 90 percent of the world’s population consumes caffeine on a daily bases and that it has become part of people’s daily routine (2012). There are not regulations or restrictions on the sale and consumption of caffeine and its use is not considered drug abuse (Julien, Advokat, &