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At the French Psychedelic Society, we are seeing a worrying increase in testimonies of people who are poorly cared for by therapists, pseudo-therapists or “shamans” administering psychedelics. Thanks in particular to our integration circles, we become aware that many clandestine practitioners adopt dangerous and irresponsible practices. It is our
duty to alert you to these risks.

 

Here are some worrying examples that we have identified:
🚫 absence of real selection to exclude people at risk, lack of knowledge of exclusion factors;
🚫 lack of knowledge of the risks linked to interactions between substances (medical treatments or mixtures of psychotropic drugs);
🚫 lack of adequate psychological preparation and monitoring of post-session integration;
🚫 administration of substances different and potentially more dangerous than those allegedly used;
🚫 administration of synthetic substances whose composition has not been chemically analyzed;
🚫 very high doses, particularly of MDMA, which can cause irreversible damage;
🚫 large number of participants compared to the number of trip sitters ;
🚫 pseudo-scientific, even conspiratorial, discourse;
🚫 inappropriate behavior during the session, for example non-consented touching;
🚫 practices emphasizing profit rather than the well-being of participants, financial manipulation, active commercial approaches to encourage participants to return;

🚫 encouragement to consume other substances after a session with taking a
psychotropic drug;
🚫 seduction of participants and transgression of the ethics of the care relationship;
🚫 inability of sitters to regulate inappropriate behavior during the ceremony;
🚫 proposal for “therapeutic sexual intercourse”;
🚫 participants ' allergies are not taken into account .

 

clandestine facilitators certainly exist. They supervise each other and practice within an ethical framework, although it is illegal. However, it is essential to understand that the reputation of a practitioner does not necessarily constitute a guarantee of security (NB: we cannot provide contacts, because we cannot encourage illegal practices, nor would we be able to to guarantee
the competence or integrity of clandestine practitioners; however, we remain available to help you in your search for safe and fair information and resources ). We aspire to a future where these therapies can be authorized, supervised and studied , in order to guarantee better safety and greater effectiveness.

In the meantime, if you choose to confide in a clandestine practitioner, we recommend that you take the following precautions to reduce the risks:
✅ conduct in-depth research on the practitioner, including their credentials and experience;
✅ require a preliminary conversation to ask your own questions;
✅ ask questions about their methods, security protocols and training;
✅ make sure the practitioner has a plan of action in case you need emergency medical care during or after your psychedelic trip. Check if this plan has been validated by a health professional;
✅ ask if the practitioner carries out chemical analyzes on the composition of the synthetic substances provided, how these tests are carried out, what are the results of these tests;

some of these recommendations are loosely inspired by https://firesideproject.org/psychedelic-citizenship

✅ also find out about their knowledge of the contraindications of the substances used;
✅ ask the practitioner how long he or she has been practicing as a facilitator, how many psychedelic experiences he or she has accompanied and what training he or she has followed to become a psychedelic practitioner. Ask about his or her training focused on trauma management and whether he or she receives supervision;
✅ inform yourself about possible adverse events that occurred during psychedelic experience facilitation sessions, including during the integration process. Ask how the practitioner handled them, what changes he or she made to his or her procedures, and whether those changes were effective;
✅ ask the practitioner about the integration of touch into their trip- sitting practice (such as holding hands, placing hands on the body, offering a hug, etc.) and clearly establish your own comfort limits;
✅ ask the practitioner about their licenses or certifications, the authorities issuing these licenses, any previous revocations or suspensions and any corresponding documentation;
✅ before a therapeutic session, discuss with the practitioner the phenomena of transference and countertransference, as well as their way of approaching them;
✅ if sensual or sexual contacts are planned in the therapeutic process you are looking for, ask for a contract to establish the rules before the session;
✅ listen to your instinct: if something seems suspicious or uncomfortable, don't engage;
✅ avoid making major or radical decisions in your life for one month after the session.

 

We hope these recommendations will help you make informed choices and reduce risks. Your well-being is our priority and we are committed to promoting the safe and responsible use of psychedelics. Take care of yourself !

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The French Psychedelic Society
contact@societepsychedelique.fr