Users of ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychedelic popular with celebrities, are experiencing nightmarish experiences at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
At least five recovering alcoholics who have also turned to ayahuasca and other psychedelics told The Washington Post they feel shunned by the group.
Jennifer Bruce said she was reprimanded when she continued to attend mainstream 12-step meetings after taking ayahuasca to deal with past trauma.
Ms Bruce said that when she picked up a chip showing her sobriety period at a meeting, attendees yelled out: “I’ve started using drugs again and I need to give it back and start over.”
“So it was very hard being there,” she said.
At another meeting, she spoke about her experiences, including with ibogaine, a natural psychoactive compound.
“I was in tears by the end because it was such a vicious attack,” Bruce said.
While AA members’ use of hallucinogens, or even cannabis, is often seen as a violation of the organization’s premise of total abstinence, AA as an organization has no opinion on controversial issues, and co-founder Bill Wilson has tried LSD.
People who take psychedelics say they are able to abstain from alcohol because the plant-based drugs are not addictive and are used for medicinal purposes or spiritual enlightenment, not to numb the senses.
The psychedelic drink is popular among celebrities, including pop star Miley Cyrus, actress Megan Fox and her boyfriend, pop-punk musician Machine Gun Kelly.
“This isn’t about using mind-altering substances for anything,” asserts Michelle Medal, who has been in recovery for 20 years and runs several psychedelic businesses. “This is about healing at a cellular level. When you heal at a cellular level, and you’re truly healed, the addiction goes away. It doesn’t mean you won’t relapse.”
Hallucinogens, which advocates call “plant-based drugs,” remain heavily regulated federally and in most states. Oregon and Colorado have legalized some use, and bills are pending in nine other states, including New Jersey. Legalization Proposal There’s nothing going on in New York right now.
Limited research suggests that hallucinogen use generally does not lead to addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and ongoing research supported by federal agencies is investigating whether hallucinogens can be used to treat substance use disorders.
Erin V., whose week-long shaman-led ayahuasca ritual retreat in Peru can cost anywhere from $600 to $3,000, said she was afraid to reveal her drug use at 12-step meetings and left AA for fear of being “banished.”
“Members are being punished and ostracized from their recovery groups and peers for ignorance, judgment and misinformation that is in direct violation of our traditions,” says Vanessa Crites, a long-term recovering person who uses psychedelics and remains in a mainstream 12-step program. Posts On LinkedIn.
Alcoholics Anonymous maintains that it has not expelled anyone and the group “does not have a ‘position’ or opinion on this matter,” a spokesman said in an email.
