Addiction Recovery and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: What you Need to Know
By: Dr. Denise Renye
The medical profession is becoming increasingly interested in using psychedelics for deeper healing and given the resurgence in the West (note that using psychedelics for healing has been practiced indigenously for millennia), it’s no wonder people from all backgrounds, including those in recovery from addiction, are curious whether psychedelics can help them.
It’s a fair question and every person is unique but 12-step programs especially pair well with psychedelic-assisted therapy. If you’re unfamiliar, 12-step programs are peer-support groups that follow a guiding set of principles to help members maintain sobriety or abstinence. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first 12-step program but many other groups follow the same format such as Overeaters Anonymous (OA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), and more.
These programs work well with psychedelic-assisted recovery because they present a framework for deep spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological work that can be beneficial before embarking on a psychedelic journey. Unfortunately, the prevailing sentiment in many 12-step groups is if a person doesn’t abstain from certain mood-altering substances (cannabis and psychedelics primarily), they are not in recovery. “This binary doesn’t take into account whether you’re using these substances to achieve or maintain a state of recovery, or to manage co-occurring disorders and health conditions, from depression to chronic pain and cancer,” wrote Olivia Pennelle.
She goes on to say, “The issue here is the misconception that taking substances serves to avoid that healing, and assumes we are still seeking an escape. But the contrary has been found to be true.” (You can learn more about psychedelics in recovery at this website). While there are people who have and do abuse psychedelics as ways to avoid, it depends on your intention, mindset, and setting in regards to constructive healing vs. destructive harming.
It’s also interesting to note that Bill Wilson himself, the founder of AA, used LSD and spoke of its benefits. He said LSD could help people achieve a spiritual awakening. LSD gives people insight into their condition, which could be used to support their recovery, he added. (If you’re interested, you can read more about his experience.)
Perhaps due to that spiritual awakening, Bill W. built the principle of spiritual awakening into AA with the 11th step. The 11th step in the 12-step program is, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God and we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
This step shows it’s important to cultivate a spiritual practice as part of one's recovery. Sometimes the terminology and language in 12-step programs can mirror the patriarchy in which the program was founded but with a more expanded understanding of how to embrace the program as one’s own, individuals can work the steps in a way that is comfortable and in alignment with their values. This can be done by changing “He” to “She” or “They” when God is referenced. It could also be using any word a person desires if they uncomfortable with the word “God.” Regardless, a spiritual practice doesn’t have to be anything fancy but setting aside time to intentionally connect with a power greater than yourself provides space to create a relationship with that “something.”
Making conscious contact is always beneficial but in terms of psychedelics, the commitment to a spiritual practice creates a foundation whereby messages and information can enter a person’s consciousness during a psychedelic journey. If someone isn’t used to slowing down or communicating with a power greater than themselves, they may have more to struggle with during their psychedelic journey.
A spiritual practice helps individuals get out of their heads and not live in a narrowly self-focused manner. This happens because it requires the person to carve out space and time for practice, which means prioritizing the self in a healthy manner. A spiritual practice also provides a pause, which is powerful for anyone but especially those in active recovery who are learning not to give in to the knee-jerk impulse that encourages them to use their drug of choice.
When someone in recovery doesn't take the time and energy to devote themselves to the 12 steps working with a sponsor and answering the journal prompts associated with each of the steps, they could be spiritually bypassing, or in other words, plastering over their problems with a Band-aid instead of confronting what’s underneath.
Some folx who are bypassing may not know they are doing so and they may even have the spiritual language to sound the part of a person on a path of doing inner work. Psychological work is necessary and the steps offer a possible way to do it. Together with therapy, the 12 steps offer a viable path that cover a lot of bases that may be avoided, intentionally or unintentionally, because it can be painful. To avoid bypassing and to have a more embodied and integrated recovery experience, completing the 11th step before exploring psychedelics is essential.
I mention all this because psychedelics are not a magical cure, even though some people are presenting them that way, and quite frankly many wish they were that way. But that is age old…people want a quick fix. It’s also why some folx reach for alcohol, drugs, food, sex, etc. – they are looking for a quick fix to feel better or numb out or somehow change their mood. However, a “fix” is rarely the case without commitment to Self and the process. Preparation before a psychedelic journey is essential because otherwise, the experience may lack meaning or relevance in a person’s life. By dedicating themselves to 12-step recovery work, folx are committing to themselves. They are committing to the possibility of moving from surviving in their lives to thriving. They are also learning to slow down and look within.
To heal takes a great deal of inner work. It’s not accurate to assume true addiction recovery is easy or that taking psychedelic medicine will be a quick fix. They’re not. Psychedelic-assisted therapy is called "assisted" because the therapy itself is the healing mechanism and the psychedelic assists the therapy. They act as a supplement.
For folx who are dedicated to doing the work and have a 12-step background, psychedelic-assisted therapy could be a boon for them. Just remember to integrate the experience afterward with someone like myself. I am certified by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) to conduct psychedelic assisted therapy and have a certificate through the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy. You want to integrate the experience because otherwise, the psychedelic journey will be akin to a dream and can easily be lost instead of becoming something real, tangible, and powerful.
Journal Prompts
· What part of myself wishes there truly were quick fixes? Who is this part and what might they need?
· What is my relationship with a spiritual practice? Have I attempted to cultivate one in this lifetime yet? Would I like to?
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References
Hill, Amelia. “LSD could help alcoholics stop drinking, AA founder believed.” The Guardian. August 23, 2012. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/aug/23/lsd-help-alcoholics-theory
Pennelle, Oliva. “Cannabis, Psychedelics & Recovery: It Isn’t As Binary As You Might Think.” The Temper. August 12, 2019. https://www.thetemper.com/cannabis-psychedelics-recovery/
This article is part of Dr. Denise Renye’s work supporting individuals integrating psychedelic and non-ordinary experiences. Learn more about psychedelic integration coaching here.