#15 - Psychedelics, Sex, Power, Silence

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sexual abuse in psychedelic therapy (above and underground) is a long-standing, <a href= "https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2050324518767442"><span class="s2"> documented</span></a>, and enduring reality maintained through cultures of silence, coercion, and <a href= "https://www.psymposia.com/magazine/i-survived-sexual-abuse-in-the-amazon-and-victim-blame-at-home/"> <span class="s2">victim blame</span></a>.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has received <a href= "https://cms.qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2-Buisson-court-filing.pdf"> <span class="s2">complaints</span></a> about <a href= "https://maps.org/news/posts/7749-statement-public-announcement-of-ethical-violation-by-former-maps-sponsored-investigators"> <span class="s2">therapists</span></a> affiliated with their clinical trials and integration list. In spring 2019, MAPS published a <a href= "https://maps.org/news/bulletin/articles/436-maps-bulletin-spring-2019-vol-29,-no-1/7710-maps-mdma-assisted-psychotherapy-code-of-ethics-spring-2019"> <span class="s2">Code of Conduct</span></a> which outlines sexual boundaries, use of touch, and erotic transference, which are necessary but not sufficient. Addressing sexual misconduct requires comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education strategies and clear avenues for holding therapists to account.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In this episode, recorded in February, Lily Kay Ross joins us to discuss Olivia Goldhill’s story, “<a href= "https://qz.com/1809184/psychedelic-therapy-has-a-sexual-abuse-problem-3/"><span class="s2">Psychedelic therapy has a sexual abuse problem</span></a>.” Ross recently completed her doctorate studying social responses to sexual violence. She brings both her personal experience with sexual violence and poor community responses in psychedelic spaces and her academic insights to bear on the myriad of questions highlighted by Goldhill’s reporting.</span></p>