[extropy-chat] LA Times article on hallucinogens

[Jef Allbright]

Pjmanney sent:
>
> ...  It's about time this research got some mainstream play.
>
>
<http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-sci-mushroom19nov19,1,68310
99.story>
> 
> Mushrooms take a trip back to the lab
> Banned hallucinogens may have medical benefits, but results 
> are unpredictable.
> 
> November 19, 2006

This article raises interesting questions with regard to personal
liberties as well as the potential risks to society of hallucinogenic
drug relevant to discussion on extropy-chat.

It also comments on observed psychological benefits and associated
effects on brain chemistry, which is the kind of fairly shallow
observation expected and typical of popular media.

What it doesn't mention is that a large part of the benefits of such an
experience may have little to do with the direct pharmacological effects
and much to do with perturbing the human system out of its present rut.

People experience similar benefits from, for example, a sudden and
intense life-threatening brush with danger (to themselves or loved
ones), falling in love, getting religion, great sex (if they haven't had
any for a long while), sexual abstinence (if they've had too much for
too long), fasting (if they've always had plenty, and so on.

On a smaller scale, laughter can completely change the dynamics of a
tense business meeting, a brief walk in the park can refresh an
engineer's problem-solving abilities, and temporarily doing something
mundane can restore a writer's creativity.

So yes, having a drug-induced hallucinogenic experience, enhanced by the
rush of a significant flow of certain neurotransmitters and (for these
drugs in particular) minor refractory impact, can easily lead to a
shakeup in world view.  But the results don't necessarily have much to
do with chemicals.

A systems-view of the world (including the humans in it) can provide
powerful insights.

Of course, as everyone knows, such thinking is totally dehumanizing.
;-)

- Jef