Drugs and psychedelics

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Photo of a bee on a vibrant orange flower with a blurred background, highlighting the intricate flower details.

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Psychedelics are philosophical tools for demolishing assumptions

By shaking up our sense of how things are, substances like LSD or psilocybin have the potential to promote deep learning

by David J Blacker

Stained glass artwork depicting two figures in medieval attire, one seated and sleeping, the other standing, on a blue background.

Altered states

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William James was right about our strange inner experiences

Rather than Freud’s cynicism or Jung’s enthusiasm, we need an inquisitive approach to unusual forms of consciousness

by David Yaden

Photo of people dining in a dimly lit restaurant, blurred flowers in foreground, focus on background diners at a table.

Addiction

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How to know if you’re addicted

Do you feel uneasy about your drinking or drug use? Recognising the signs of addiction can be the first step to recovery

by Rebecca E Williams

Desert with a blurred yellow road sign and distant hills under a blue sky.

Altered states

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Ride along on a road trip suffused with LSD, petty theft and true love

Directed by Aric Allen

A painting of six men playing cards in a rustic room with a fireplace and ladder. One man wears a red hat.

Drugs and psychedelics

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What can Kant tell us about the perils and promise of booze?

Drinking like a philosopher: what does Immanuel Kant have to say about the role of intoxication in our overlooked lives?

by Matthew Perkins-McVey

Photo of hands clasped on a wooden table with a blister pack of orange pills in front.

Depression

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Why the ketamine revolution is stalling – and how to save it

Used with psychotherapy, ketamine can provide safe and effective treatment for depression when other treatments have failed

by Bita Moghaddam

Colourful photo with three people in sunglasses. Blurred effect, room number 101 visible, two seated in the background.

Drugs and psychedelics

guide

How to have a safe psychedelic trip

A psychedelic experience can be deeply rewarding, but also carries real risks. Here’s how to avoid a bad trip

by Christian Jarrett

A man wearing an eye mask lies on a bed while another person observes; a monitor and lamp are on the nearby table.

Emerging therapies

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What does ketamine-assisted therapy look like? Inside one firefighter’s journey

Directed by Brandon Kapelow

Silhouetted photo of a family on a wooden pier overlooking a serene lake at sunset.

Drugs and psychedelics

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To learn from a psychedelic trip, explore the dreams that follow

Psychedelic experiences, properly digested, offer opportunities for change – and the dreams that follow them can help

by Mackenzie Amara

Medieval manuscript illustration of a mandrake plant with human features, surrounded by handwritten text.

Sex and sexuality

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A long history of aphrodisiacs, from health tonic to sexual aid

Long before Viagra, people around the world and throughout history used aphrodisiacs to boost health and improve fertility

by Alison M Downham Moore