By Michael Pollan
There is a fungus, ophiocordyceps unilateralis, that takes over an ants mind. After it's infected by the fungus, the zombie ant exhibits strange behavior that spreads the fungus to other ants.
I'm not warming up to the use of psychedelic drugs. They can induce a mystical feelings in people. This is not always a good thing.
For example, the Church study of psilocybin concludes that those who took the drugs had deep mystical experiences that affected them for the rest of their lives. It implies the experience was only positive. The summary doesn't mention that two of the patients felt deeply anxious during the experience and that one had to be restrained because he wanted to run out into the street to proclaim the coming of the messiah.
Those who regularly use psychedelics seem to ignore the value of sober experience. This feels like it's an addictive drug with different vector-- spirituality instead of physical pleasure. Like most all drugs, their use is ultimately selfish-- the mystical experience is specific to you, probably can't be repeated, and can't be shared with others. You are emotionally, mentally and spiritually unavailable while on psychedelics.
The studies on psychedelics are big on discussing the individual mystical experience and get over excited by the hypotheticals. The facts of life afterward are often glossed over. Do addicts use less after psychedelics? (Yes, but the study was small) Do the depressed improve? (Yes. Again the study was small.) Do the healthy lead a more positive life? Sometimes, but the studies are small and quirky.
There is a fungus, ophiocordyceps unilateralis, that takes over an ants mind. After it's infected by the fungus, the zombie ant exhibits strange behavior that spreads the fungus to other ants.
This metaphor is not lost on Pollan. Sometimes psychedelic advocates are more focused on proclaiming how great psychedelics are than the problems they purport to solve. They are breathlessly excited about the hypothetical possibilities. The actual tangible changes are glossed over-- 'cause feeling spiritual is so important. 'cause a 1% chance is a lot.
I'm not warming up to the use of psychedelic drugs. They can induce a mystical feelings in people. This is not always a good thing.
For example, the Church study of psilocybin concludes that those who took the drugs had deep mystical experiences that affected them for the rest of their lives. It implies the experience was only positive. The summary doesn't mention that two of the patients felt deeply anxious during the experience and that one had to be restrained because he wanted to run out into the street to proclaim the coming of the messiah.
Those who regularly use psychedelics seem to ignore the value of sober experience. This feels like it's an addictive drug with different vector-- spirituality instead of physical pleasure. Like most all drugs, their use is ultimately selfish-- the mystical experience is specific to you, probably can't be repeated, and can't be shared with others. You are emotionally, mentally and spiritually unavailable while on psychedelics.
The studies on psychedelics are big on discussing the individual mystical experience and get over excited by the hypotheticals. The facts of life afterward are often glossed over. Do addicts use less after psychedelics? (Yes, but the study was small) Do the depressed improve? (Yes. Again the study was small.) Do the healthy lead a more positive life? Sometimes, but the studies are small and quirky.
