The potential of psychedelics to heal our racial traumas

Don’t Call Me Resilient

When a lot of us think about psychedelics, we think about magic mushrooms - and hallucinatory drug trips. But the concept of psychedelics as a tool in therapy is making its way into the mainstream. Online stores have popped up selling psilocybin capsules promising to boost focus. And on a more official front, the Canadian Senate recently recommended fast-tracking research into how psychedelics can help veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But research also suggests psychedelics - including psilocybin ("magic mushrooms") and MDMA - can help heal racial trauma. In today's episode, Vinita speaks to clinical psychologist and University of Ottawa psychology professor Monnica Williams, about how psychedelic-assisted therapy can help with those dealing with this type of trauma, which usually encompasses ongoing experiences of what Williams calls "insults to your person." But it doesn't end there: With racial trauma, Williams says, therapists are also looking at events beyond an individual's lifetime such as "historical trauma, that may have happened decades or even centuries ago, that is still associated with the person's cultural group." And while psychedelics show incredible promise in treating this type of trauma, many challenges remain. Part of it has to do with legalization and the lack of clinical trials. Another part has to do with the terrible track record institutions have when it comes to communities of colour and drugs. There is a long and ugly history of using Black and racialized bodies without consent for medical experimentation, including drug testing. And we can't ignore the racial roots of the war on drugs and the devastating impact it had - and continues to have - on Black and racialized communities. Williams tackles these hurdles in her work. And in this episode, she shares her thoughts about how we can open up the healing properties of psychedelics to racialized people in need in a way that works with them, rather than against them.