Crisis Intervention Related to the Use of Psychoactive Substances in Recreational Settings - Evaluating the Kosmicare Project at Boom Festival (original) (raw)
Related papers
Kosmicare project implements crisis intervention in situations related to the use of psychoactive substances at Boom Festival (Portugal). We present evaluation research that aims to contribute to the transformation of the project into an evidence-based intervention model. It relies on harm reduction and risk minimization principles, crisis intervention models, and Grof’s psychedelic psychotherapy approach for crisis intervention in situations related to unsupervised use of psychedelics. Intervention was expected to produce knowledge about the relation between substance use and mental health impact in reducing potential risk related to the use of psychoactive substances and mental illness, as well as an impact upon target population’s views of themselves, their relationship to substance use, and to life events in general. Research includes data on process and outcome indicators through a mixed methods approach, collected next to a sample of n=176 participants. Sample size varied considerably, however, among different research measures. 52% of Kosmicare visitors reported LSD use. Over 40% also presented multiple drug use. Pre-post mental state evaluation showed statistically significant difference (p<.05) confirming crisis resolution. Crisis episodes that presented no resolution were more often related with mental health outburst episodes, with psychoactive substance use or not. Visitors showed high satisfaction with intervention (n=58) and according to follow-up (n=18) this perception was stable over time. Crisis intervention was experienced as very significant. We discuss limitations and implications of evaluating natural setting based interventions, and the relation between psychoactive substance use and psychopathology. Other data on visitor’s profile and vulnerability to crisis showed inconclusive.
Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais, 2017
This paper is organized into four parts of discussion. Firstly, we present the Portuguese decriminalization law and the central role of harm reduction within this framework. The second section discusses the mainstream meanings ascribed to the 'HR double' mainly anchored in problematic drug uses. The third section highlights the need to take into account the specificities of recreational drug uses, users and environments. Thus, the paper highlights the experience of the Kosmicare Project at the Boom Festival, which combines principles of harm reduction, crisis intervention and Grof's approach. The fourth section draws upon the project's experience itself and in the idea of the normalization of drug uses to acknowledge and to discuss the potentialities, tensions and limitations of these contributions when it comes to analyzing and constructing a strong version of the 'HR double'.
According to current international drug policy, psychedelic drugs share the same abuse and addictability potential as heroin. The presumption is that acknowledging any different would not only pose a threat to the safety and health of society but would compromise established moral values. Legislators have created a campaign against psychedelics since their revival in the 1960s, fighting a war against an imagined evil. Refusing to allow space for possible therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs prevents individuals from a better quality of life and therefore violates human rights. MDMA-assisted therapy (±3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) has been used successfully for year by an underground network of psychotherapist to treat PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). After its popularisation in the 1980s, it was given an emergency assignment as a schedule I substance and would arbitrarily remain classified in the most restrictive categorisation. Drug policy continues to make research with MDMA a slow and expensive endeavour. Those suffering from PTSD still cannot access MDMA-assisted therapy despite its on-going 25-year development as a new drug with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MDMAassisted therapy is the single most effective, efficient, and humane treatment for PTSD and the possibly greatest innovation in psychiatric care with the past 100 years. This thesis will address how MDMA was illegally categorised as a schedule I substance and how legislators ignored the recommendations of the administrative judge, scientific evidence, and the criteria for scheduling substances. The scheduling of MDMA was a classic example of legal paternalism which impedes on personal autonomy, self-determination, and human dignity. Individuals should be afforded the right and responsibility to make informed decisions about their treatment options with the aid of an overseeing physician. The law cannot adequately assess the needs of each individual, especially when making uneducated decisions according to ‗moral' code. When addressing the ethical concerns of MDMA, this thesis will demonstrate that this treatment is in fact more humane and respects the entirety of human rights. V.IV Conclusion .
Recreational drug consumers: who seeks treatment?
2005
Background: Recreational drug consumption represents a complex issue, because of the lack of a shared definition, settings and patterns of consumptions, and poorness of evidence-based treatments. In spite of the great number of users, just few seek specific treatment, probably representing those at major risk of continuing and problematic use. The general objective of this study was to report the characteristics and main consumption patterns of recreational drug consumers treated in Regione Piemonte (Italy), in order to formulate hypotheses suitable for further research aimed at establishing more effective preventive intervention and treatment. Methods: All addiction treatment services in the region were required to fill in, for each user, a questionnaire reporting: contact of the user with the service, socio-demoghaphic data, drugs consumption and interventions/treatments. Results: Among 441 users, 70.3% were new users, 85.5% were males and the average age of consumption onset was 22 years. Psychiatric and traumatics events were present in 13.3% and in 17.9% of cases, respectively. The most frequent primary substances were cocaine (76.9%) and ecstasy (13.8%). Substances taken in association with primary drug are quoted in 75% of cases. Conclusions: The users that get in touch with services are those showing greater problems, representing, therefore, the main target for preventive public health interventions. Some interesting points can be noted: among patients treated, cocaine represents the main issue; females seem to be more sensitive to recreational drug effects; social class (education), settings and use habits are similar for recreational drugs users and heroin users.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2019
Differences in mental health (MH) of users of distinct psychoactive substances have been shown. Both substance use (SU) and MH in users is influenced by stressful life events. This study compared MH parameters in distinct groups of substance users and evaluated the impact of stress factors on these outcomes. Data stem from the longitudinal Swiss Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF) involving 4,475 young adult men. Distinct groups were created for the past 12 months use of psychedelics, MDMA, psychostimulants, and cannabis. MH measurements (depressive symptoms, overall MH, perceived stress, life satisfaction) were used as outcome variables, while indicators of past family functioning and stressful life events served as covariates. The MH of psychedelics users was not significantly different from the no-drug use group, whereas poorer MH was found in the other SU groups. Observed effects were influenced by the tested stress factors. The absence of association between use of psychedelics and worsening of MH deserves further investigation in male and female samples. Stressful life experiences must be considered when assessing the MH of users of illicit substances. These findings suggest that some men practice SU as selfmedication to cope with life adversity.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018
Research on the clinical applications of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has demonstrated promising early results for treatment of alcohol dependence. Detailed description of the content and methods of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as it is conducted in clinical settings, is scarce. Methods: An open-label pilot (proof-of-concept) study of psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol dependence (NCT01534494) was conducted to generate data for a phase 2 RCT (NCT02061293) of a similar treatment in a larger population. The present paper presents a qualitative content analysis of the 17 debriefing sessions conducted in the pilot study, which occurred the day after corresponding psilocybin medication sessions. Results: Participants articulated a series of key phenomena related to change in drinking outcomes and acute subjective effects of psilocybin. Discussion: The data illuminate change processes in patients' own words during clinical sessions, shedding light on potential therapeutic mechanisms of change and how participants express effects of psilocybin. This study is unique in analyzing actual clinical sessions, as opposed to interviews of patients conducted separately from treatment.
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration: A Transtheoretical Model for Clinical Practice
Frontiers in Psychology, 2021
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) is a transtheoretical and transdiagnostic clinical approach to working with patients who are using or considering using psychedelics in any context. The ongoing discussion of psychedelics in academic research and mainstream media, coupled with recent law enforcement deprioritization of psychedelics and compassionate use approvals for psychedelic-assisted therapy, make this model exceedingly timely. Given the prevalence of psychedelic use, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and the unique cultural and historical context in which psychedelics are placed, it is important that mental health providers have an understanding of the unique motivations, experiences, and needs of people who use them. PHRI incorporates elements of harm reduction psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and can be applied in both brief and ongoing psychotherapy interactions. PHRI represents a shift away from assessment limited to untoward ou...
Harm reduction of novel psychoactive substance use
Móró, L. (2014). Harm reduction of novel psychoactive substance use. In G. R. Potter, M. Wouters, J. Fountain (Eds.), Change and Continuity: researching evolving drug landscapes in Europe (pp. 36-50). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers.
During the last few years, the rapid emergence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has significantly reshaped the global drug scene. Emergency hospital admissions and confirmed or suspected NPS-related deaths are on the rise, and many related health and social problems may have not yet even been fully recognised. Potential NPS harms stem from the lack of information, as well as from the general sets and settings of drug use. As compared with “classical” drug harm reduction, NPS-related harm reduction has got a notably more difficult operational environment. In this chapter, I will briefly outline the emergence, terminology, and appeal of the NPS phenomenon, and introduce a seven-item list of NPS-related risks and subsequent potential harms that has been compiled from both academic and anecdotal sources. Moreover, I summarise six important ongoing NPS harm reduction attempts that can be currently perceived as best-practices, illustrated by European examples. Finally, I conclude the analyses of NPS-related harms and harm reduction best-practices by discussing some conceptual, strategic, practical, and drug policy issues.
Harm Reduction Journal, 2023
Background Rave music parties (RMP) are a worldwide socio-cultural phenomenon, where people listen to rave music while frequently consuming psychedelic drugs. Epidemiological studies have emphasized the hazardous consequences following the consumption of psychedelic drugs at RMP, and qualitative studies have shown social and psycho-spiritual experiences. Yet, phenomenological inquiry into subjective experiences of attendees is scant. This study aimed to examine physical, emotional, perceptual and social experiences of RMP participants in Israel, and their view on Israel's policy toward rave events. In addition, the study aimed to contribute useful information for policymakers and society on rave music and psychedelic drugs experiences at RMP. Method Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze transcriptions of semi-structured interviews with 27 individuals attending RMP regularly and consume psychedelic drugs. Results Analysis revealed four significant themes: the first theme, the impact of Israel' s drug policy on participants' sense of safety, relates to participants' sense of insecurity and anxiety at Israeli RMP due to government drug ban policy. The second theme, the stigma on rave culture, relates to participants' perception regarding the stigma on rave culture in law enforcement agencies and in society in general. The third theme, negative experiences, describes short-term experiences after consuming psychedelics at RMP, including hallucinations and disorientation. The fourth theme, positive experiences, describes positive sensory, emotional and self/world attitudinal aspects after consuming psychedelics at RMP. Sensory experiences included intensified auditory, visual and tactile experiences; emotional experiences included positive feelings toward others, reduced stress and ability to vent difficult emotions; self/world attitudinal aspects included self-acceptance, higher appreciation of life and connectedness to nature. Conclusions The study highlights RMP participants' sense of insecurity due to Israel's strict drug policy and absence of harm reduction strategies at rave scenes. The study also notes participants' experience of stigmatization as drug addicts by society and law enforcement agencies. Reducing police presence and adopting harm reduction policies at rave scenes in Israel may increase participants' sense of security, reduce stigmatization and decrease overdose risk. Hence, the findings may contribute to new knowledge useful for policymakers and society concerning RMP and the use of psychedelics.