By Natasha Baer
Weezer’s iconic track “Say It Ain’t So” captures the feeling of seeing people we trust fall into harmful habits. In the song, the protagonist comes home and sees a bottle of beer in the fridge, connecting it to his belief that his parents’ marriage ended because his father was an alcoholic, and so he senses his mother’s relationship with his step-father would end the same way. Similarly, when those currently leading the charge in psychedelic therapy violate the code of ethics and cause patient harm, we are reminded of psychedelic therapy’s history of sexual abuse problems and that leaves us with intense emotions.
A recent revelation that a psychiatrist and leading voice in the psychedelic space is under investigation for misconduct for an alleged relationship with a former patient, has left me feeling unsettled. While we await the outcome, this news is a brutal reminder of the risks present within psychedelic treatment.
This one hits very close to home for me because I am currently seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy after I was abused by a romantic partner which brought about subsequent mental health disorders. To have the treatment I’m seeking be a potential ground for more trauma, it is like cocking a gun and pulling the trigger on my distress. And, yes I’m a huge advocate for progressing psychedelics, bad news puts the industry’s reputation at stake and therefore could negatively impact my business. And, yes the inherent sexism causes me frustration as the most common dynamic in which sexual abuse has occurred has been between vulnerable women and men in a position of power. Yes, and because I have met the man in question.
I shall call him Dr Bristol. Although his name is public information, I have decided to use an alternative name to protect his privacy pending the outcome of the trial. I plan to include his name if he is found guilty.
Granted, I only met Dr Bristol once but my meeting with him was memorable and important to me. He was the first person I told that I would be starting a psychedelics news site. Additionally, I volunteer for Mind Medicine Australia (MMA), a charity who hosted an event Dr Bristol was speaking at, and I even wrote a follow-up piece about Dr Bristol’s event for MMA. Dr Bristol had strong links to MMA, however they have recently stated that he has “stepped aside from his duties… pending the outcome of this hearing.”
A commonly raised precaution of underground psychedelic-assisted therapy is the ethics of the facilitators. The very act of participating in an underground operation implies an openness to engage in criminal behaviour. Yet, as history has shown us, clinical settings do not guarantee immunity from ethical lapses either. This is neither a point for not against underground assisted therapy just a reminder that there is no risk-free option and more must be done to prevent patient harm
The vulnerability of patients undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy cannot be overstated. During Dr Bristol’s own lecture, I learned that substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine have profound effects on the neuroplasticity of the brain, and render individuals particularly susceptible to external influences during the treatment. Coupling this with the deeply personal nature of therapeutic relationships, it creates a fertile ground for potential exploitation.
With psychedelic assisted therapy being an emerging industry, set to scale in Australia, it is disturbing to hear that already a few leading professionals in this space have been linked to sexual abuse-based ethics violations. Two articles I’ll point to, if you want to learn more about the history of sexual violence in psychedelic treatment, Psychedelic therapy has a sexual abuse problem and As psychedelic therapy goes mainstream, former patient warns of danger of sexual abuse. Clearly, there’s work to be done to protect vulnerable people.
In Australia, to prescribe psychedelic treatment to a patient, one needs to apply to the Ethics Board. However, looking at the Human Research Ethics Committees and the Therapeutic Goods Legislation it describes the role of HRECs in relation to “the supply of unapproved therapeutic goods in connection with the operation of the Clinical Trial Notification Scheme, the Clinical Trial Exemption Scheme, the Special Access Scheme, and in the approval of Authorised Prescribers.” Note that these guidelines primarily pertain to the therapy being delivered and the ethics associated with conducting the trial itself, but do not extend to cover upholding the doctors to their personal ethics.
The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the doctors themselves. Experience tells me that self-regulation is the downfall of the honest man. Ironically, the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy course, where Dr Bristol is on the faculty, includes a module on Ethics, Diversity & Touch. One would expect the arbiters of the course would practise what they preach.
The reputation of the movement is at stake, and sadly, we are left with more questions than answers. It prompts reflection on the need for prevention strategies, victim support systems, and accountability mechanisms.
I can only think of calling out those guilty of abuse and their actions:
In Dr Bristol’s case, the allegation is for a relationship. We do not know the scale of harm that relationship caused but let’s not hope it ends out the same way it does for Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, “Your drug is a heartbreaker.”
Thank you to University of Sydney psychology PhD student, Kayla Greenstien, who studies psychedelics, ethics and complex trauma. Greenstien’s article helped inform my opinion.
If you have been affected by this issue, please consider reaching out to the Shine Collective. They provide no-cost peer support and case consultation to survivors of psychedelic harm. Or, you may consider donating to support their cause.