Psychedelic was a term coined in the 1950’s that means “mind manifesting.” Other common names are “entheogens” evoking the divine within or “plant medicines.”

A short list of the “classic” psychedelics are substances like psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline containing cacti, like San Pedro or Peyote, LSD and ayahuasca.

Since the 1970, the U.S. government has labeled most psychoactive plants and fungi including the marijuana plant, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline found in cacti, dimethyltryptamine found in ayahuasca, and ibogaine found in tree root bark as “hallucinogens” -- classifying them as Schedule I drugs with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision.

They are powerful. That means they need to be used responsibly and with great care.

The word “drug” often has negative associations even though some kind of drug use, like caffeine, is a part of many of our daily lives. When we take a drug for the purpose of our health and well-being, we often call that a “medicine.” For this reason, we often refer to psychedelics as medicine.

For more information on risks and complications see our resource on discernment “Before You Try.”

Psychedelics aren’t for everyone. Bad experiences tend to fall into two categories, medical contraindications or a challenging journey.

For those with medical contraindications a screening process is important. Like with any medication, there can be side effects or folks who it isn’t ideal for. There are some medical conditions, medications and mental health histories that may increase the risk of complications. Long term mental health complications are rare but possible and should be studied further.

There are challenging experiences, sometimes called “bad trips” where the experience feels traumatizing. These kinds of experiences often occur when the substances are used in unsafe situations and without preparation. This is why controlled and safe contexts are critical for safe and responsible use but this still does not eliminate all risk.

Christian and Hebrew scriptures certainly have warnings about the excessive use of a drug like alcohol. But there are also plenty of examples of talking about using wine to address medical issues and for celebrating festivals and weddings.

Drugs, like caffeine, are a daily part of our lives. They can have positive benefits or negative consequences and sometimes a mix of both. This is why we advocate safe and responsible use of psychedelics and emphasize the need for regulatory systems to increase safety.

Some have argued that Christians should be of “sound mind” and clear judgment and that psychedelics distort judgment and Christians shouldn’t use them.

Psychedelics do create an “alternative state of consciousness” which is why people shouldn’t take them and drive or operate heavy machinery. While not suited for day to day tasks many people report that they experience a greater sense of clarity and discernment when exploring their own life, feelings, emotions and spiritual growth.

Just like caffeine is helpful to wake up and focus and not helpful before bed, psychedelic use is only appropriate in specific circumstances .

We know that the Christian scriptures say,

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

And the Hebrew scriptures say,

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. - Genesis 1:31

We know that these substances are made good because they are made by God. But there are questions both from biblical times and today about appropriate or inappropriate ways of using them.

While this is an area of some debate it is possible that there are condemnations in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures around certain kinds of “potion” or “poison” making.

However, there are times when those labels were put on people simply for their knowledge of plants and their healing powers. Other times, it is in reference to someone who uses this knowledge for personal enrichment or to harm others.

The language is ambiguous however as the Christian scriptures use pharmakon in a negative light in some passages, but early Christian texts have used it to describe earlier forms of the eucharist and the person of Jesus.

Psychedelics appear to have a very low risk for addiction. The intensity of the experience means that many people feel very little desire to use the substance again in the immediate future.

Substances like psilocybin mushrooms create tolerance at a rapid rate so when they are used multiple days in a row the effects diminish dramatically. This decreases the likelihood of any kind of physical dependence and decreases the likelihood of addiction.

One of the encouraging areas of use for psychedelics is actually in helping treat substance use disorders.

This question depends on which substance is being used. Unlike alcohol, there is no known lethal dose of psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. However, MDMA is chemically categorized as a stimulant and can be consumed at lethal doses.

When these substances are obtained through regulated channels and there is clear guidance for potential complications with other substances, the chance of overdose or other toxic effects is very low.

There are other areas of potential concern. Lack of regulation in countries like the United States means that some people don’t have access to reliable sources of these substances. This means that there is a higher likelihood of poor quality or tainted substances than in a regulated market.

Another area of concern is around negative interactions with other substances. People using SSRIs or MAOIs should consult with a medical doctor before using psychedelics as significant adverse effects have been recorded. There can also be concerns around mixing with other substances like depressants or stimulants.

This is an important concern as there are tragic stories of physical and sexual abuse as well as unhealthy power dynamics in association with the use of psychedelics. Abuse is already far too prevalent in Christian communities and religious communities more broadly.

We believe this is one reason why creating a regulated and legal framework for the use of the substances is so important. It is critical to have strong ethical guidelines and systems of accountability. Too often, people are afraid to report abusive situations because they are concerned about the legal status of the substances involved.

Ligare is committed to educating others on potential warning signs, creating ethical frameworks for use, promoting responsibility and ensuring systems of accountability.