I've donated, seems like a great cause, and ICEERS and The Beckley Foundation are doing great work and worthy of support I think.

Long-term effects of ayahuasca on the quality of life, well-being and health of Western Users: a Longitudinal Study.

http://www.iceers.org/sc...ahuasca.php#.V4NegqLnI81

Summary

A scientific research project developed by ICEERS in collaboration with Beckley Foundation conducted at the Temple of the Way of Light, a Peruvian ayahuasca center that attracts around 750 visitors from all around the world each year. An unprecedented research environment to advance the current debate about ayahuasca’s effects, potential risks and benefits with scientific facts.

Motivation of the study

Scientific evidence available in the published literature about ayahuasca’s psychological and physiological effects indicates an acceptable risk profile with no abuse potential and potential benefits in the use for e.g. depression and addiction treatment. However, national and international drug control bodies, such as the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), advocate increasingly for repressive measures to ayahuasca drinking practices, stating that there is an alarming increase in interest in its recreational use, which according to several reports implies serious health risks, possibly encouraged by a lack of clarity with regard to the control status of the plants at the national or the international level. The INCB recommended in 2010 and again in 2012 that governments ‘take action’ against these ayahuasca drinking practices where needed.

In this socio-political environment it is crucial to advance scientific knowledge about ayahuasca drinking practices and the increased use in our globalized world, as well as a better understanding on the health implications of ayahuasca, to make sure that political decisions can be taken based on evidences.

Objectives and Methodology

The objective of this project is to study the following aspects:

- The risks related to ayahuasca in Western users: potential abuse and general health. Determining the motivations for ayahuasca’s use outside its traditional socio-economic context in a large sample of Western users; degree of substance abuse; the frequency of consumption-related disorders; consumption patterns of other drugs; and physical and mental health in relation to their quality of life.

- The long-term effects of ayahuasca on personal and spiritual well-being of Western users, as well as potential therapeutic efficacy in emotional disorders such as depression, anxiety, grief and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methodology

Longitudinal Study conducted with participants of the 12-day and 1 month workshop of the ayahuasca center ‘Temple of the Way of Light’, in which assessments are conducted before and after the workshop, with a follow up at 3, 6 and 12 months. All participants respond to an online set of internationally validated questionnaires measuring quality of life and well-being, and a subgroup with emotional issues (depression, PTSD, grief and anxiety) also to specific questionnaires that measure these aspects. The results are compared with a waiting-list control group.

Expected benefits

Publications and Information

- Two articles in scientific journals
- Presentation of results at conferences, events, etc..
- Dissemination articles in magazines, blogs, social networks, etc.. and other forms of media to disseminate the findings of the study to the general public

Expected benefits of the study

- The advancement of scientific knowledge on the effects, risks and benefits of ayahuasca
- Generate a solid response towards the claims from the INCB regarding the ayahuasca phenomenon
- Exploring the potential of the classification of ayahuasca as traditional medicine by the WHO

Collaborate with us

We have started enrolling participants for the study. If you have been accepted for a workshop at the Temple of the Way of Light, please consider participation. It only takes a little over 3 hours of your time over a one year period... an easy way to make a significant difference!

All data is gathered in compliance with the Law for the Protection of Private Data (Ley Orgánica 15/1999 de 13 de diciembre de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal, (LOPD), so your anonymity is guaranteed and gathered data protected.