Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Psychedelics: Science, Medicine and Politics
Monday, February 24, 2020
Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, 7 p.m.
This lecture will discuss the politics of psychedelic research from the 1960s to today. Doblin will explore the history of MDMA, mechanisms of actions of psychedelics, and efforts to medicalize psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, depression and other indications.
This program is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and co-sponsored by the departments of philosophy and psychology, the anthropology club, the neuroscience club, the Health Studies Program and the Program in Policy Studies. This program was initiated by the Clarke Forum student project managers and is also part of the Clarke Forum’s Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty Series.
Biography (provided by the speakers)
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife, dog, and empty rooms from three children, one of whom is in college and two have graduated.
Related Links
Rick Doblin’s Ted Talk – https://www.ted.com/talks/rick_doblin_the_future_of_psychedelic_assisted_psychotherapy?language=en
Fox news 6 minute clip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVs-urb-6W0
Movie called Trip of Compassion: https://vimeo.com/198560028 Password: trip
Short Documentary – Ecstatic states: treating PTSD with MDMA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNxuRs6tTuw
Short video interview with SGT Jon Lubecky – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K5sJuTbQvY
Scientific papers:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30245101
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=mdma+mice+dolen
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31572236
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31065731
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30890035
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30529341
More:
https://maps.org/research/mdma