Ask Rick Doblin Anything: How To Experience Psychedelics?

In our second video from MAPS founder Rick Doblin, he explains how patients should primarily guide themselves through a psychedelic experience, rather than rely too much on someone else (though it is important to have a sober sitter present to protect the person from the outside world). Doblin also shares an illuminating story about an Israeli who suffered PTSD after witnessing 10 people killed in a terrorist bombing:

From his bio:

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences.

His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and three children.

Doblin’s previous answer about the myths surrounding psychedelics is here. Our extensive coverage of the spiritual and therapeutic benefits of psychedelics is here (or, in chronological order, here).