"Psychedelic Parenthood: Could we include families in the psychedelic renaissance?" at Horizons 2024

Recorded live at the 16th annual Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelic conference on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York City

“Psychedelic Parenthood: Could we include families in the psychedelic renaissance?”

featuring:


Glauber Loures de Assis, PhD

This presentation will address both the potential and risks of scientific research and therapy with psychedelics for children and adolescents, and social, economic, and decolonial aspects related to the inclusion of psychedelic families, especially children and mothers, in the psychedelic field.

Ethnographic reports indicate that the psychedelic experience can help parents with challenging realities such as imposter syndrome and maternal guilt, and positively re-signify the experience of parenting.

We also know that there are several traditional cultures where psychedelics are an integral part of community life, and may also be used during pregnancy and childbirth, such as the Santo Daime tradition of midwifery, and the practice of breastfeeding by Wixárika mothers.

Despite this, the Western psychedelic mainstream still has difficulties in including children, adolescents, and psychedelic families in its spaces, discussions, and scientific research.

Based on a review of empirical evidence and the lived experience of the presenter, who is the father of three children who have been born and raised in a psychedelic context and culture in Brazil, this presentation offers a reflection on the need for open discussion of psychedelic parenthood in the psychedelic community.