Intro to Psychedelic Studies

Catalog description

Concerns about the rising rates of overdose, suicide, and the prevalence of psychological disorders lacking in innovative treatments and sociopolitical reforms have enabled a renewed interest in the exploration of psychedelics as tools for healing and personal growth. Indeed, in recent years psychedelics have shown tremendous potential as medicines; however, evidence of their use among humans throughout ancient and contemporary history reveal a much more complicated anthropological, social, and political context to explore. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of psychedelics substances from an interdisciplinary perspective. We will investigate four contexts in particular: indigenous traditions and spirituality, social justice, western medicine, and capitalism, and also consider how these contexts involving psychedelics have interacted with broader political, economic, and social issues throughout history. This course will incorporate contemplative engagement beyond the didactic lectures and exercises to direct a personal experiential opportunity for students to use to explore their own relationship with non-ordinary states of consciousness .