Overview

Explores the benefits, risks, and growing acceptance of modern psychedelic therapy • Examines the contemporary psychedelic phenomenon, including the history of criminalization and legalization, psychedelics’ effects on the brain, recent clinical research, and new therapeutic potentials • Explores substances like psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca, ketamine, and MDMA, including scientific evidence for psychedelics’ potential to treat addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases • Includes extensive practical information on safety, risk, and harm reduction for both laypeople and mental health practitioners Presenting a comprehensive guide to the exciting new landscape around psychedelics, psychopharmacologist Anton Gomez-Escolar examines the long history of criminalizing and (slowly) legalizing these substances and their increasingly demonstrable positive effects on body, mind, and spirit. Exploring psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca, ketamine, MDMA, and other substances, Gomez-Escolar looks at the multitude of scientific studies providing critical evidence for psychedelics’ ability to treat addiction, depression, anxiety, and trauma as well as their potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. He provides key information for therapists and other health practitioners as well as explores the potential benefits and limitations of microdosing and how psychedelics could help with various neurological and mental health issues, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaking down substances by type, the author looks at the main risks of each psychedelic and its benefits, best harm-reduction strategies, and the neural pathways each affects. Gomez-Escolar also includes a large selection of resources for people seeking to engage personally with psychedelics for healing.

Full Product Details

Author:   Anton Gomez-Escolar ,  Rick Doblin
Publisher:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Imprint:   Park Street Press,U.S.
Edition:   2nd Edition, New Edition of Essential Guide to the Psychedelic Renaissance
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.522kg
ISBN:  

9798888500026

Pages:   320
Publication Date:   24 April 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD by Rick Doblin, Ph.D. Preface 1 Basic Concepts of Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology The Brain and Central Nervous System Neurons, Synapses, Neurotransmitters, and Neuroreceptors Neuropharmacology 2 Introduction to Psychoactive Substances Talking about Psychoactive Substances Types of Psychoactive Substances Stimulants Depressants Opioids Cannabinoids Empathogens/Entactogens Dissociatives Psychedelics 3 A History of Psychedelics in the West Pre-LSD Post-LSD MDMA After the Ban 4 The Psychedelic Renaissance Ongoing Psychedelics Research Social and Cultural Contexts The Rise of a New Industry 5 How Psychedelics Work Mechanisms at the Neuroreceptor Level Mechanisms at the Brain Level How Does the Brain Work? Hierarchical Predictive Coding How Do Psychedelics Affect Our Brain Function? What Happens at the Psychological Level? Why Do We Have 5-HT2a Receptors and Psychedelic Experiences? How Can Psychedelics Help with Mental Health Disorders or Other Maladaptive Conditions? 6 The Present and Future of Clinical Research with Psychedelic Drugs Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Depression and Anxiety Addictions Neurodegenerative Diseases, Long COVID, and Neurorehabiliation Behavior Change Couples Therapy and Conflict Resolution Microdosing Other Lines of Research for Possible Future Applications 7 The Applications, Effects, Dosages, and Risks of Different Psychedelic Substances Psilocybin (“Magic Mushrooms”) LSD (“Acid”) DMT/Ayahuasca 5-MeO-DMT (“Toad”) Mescaline (“Cactus”) Ibogaine MDMA (“Ecstasy”) Ketamine 8 Psychedelic Risks and Harm Reduction Strategies Risks Related to Substance (Drug) Dosage, Frequency of Consumption, and Tolerance Purity and Adulteration Routes of Administration Mixtures and Combinations Risks Related to Person and Context (Set and Setting) Minimizing Risks Related to the Set Minimizing Risks Related to the Setting Managing “Bad Trips” and other Psychedelic Emergencies 9 Conclusions: Looking to the Future APPENDIX I Psychedelic Resources APPENDIX II The Legal Status of Psychedelic Drugs around the World APPENDIX III Glossary Index

Reviews

“A well-researched, up-to-date summary of what’s on the cutting edge of the psychedelic renaissance, covering the latest neuroscience, clinical trials, and therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicines. The Psychedelic Reawakening is a crash course in psychoactive drugs, a wonderful overview of some of the most promising and powerful tools for treating mental health, and a valuable guide to learning harm reduction strategies. After so many years of psychedelics being criminalized, demonized, ridiculed, or ignored, Anton Gomez-Escolar’s The Psychedelic Reawakening is a breath of fresh air!” * David Jay Brown, author of The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities and The New Science of Psyche * “Gomez-Escolar expands our view of the vast potential of psychedelics for therapeutic use. He emphasizes that the use of such substances requires purposeful intention through set and setting to maximize benefits and promote safe use. The Psychedelic Reawakening is an excellent resource for therapists and other health professionals and their clients, policy makers, recreational users, psychonauts, and the general public.” * Wade Richardson, author of The Psychedelic Mindmeld * “The Psychedelic Reawakening is relevant and necessary at a time when psychedelic drugs are already available for use in psychiatry, as is the case with ketamine, and as the available arsenal will grow over time: psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and more. This book fills a necessary gap in this new medical and social panorama. In addition, Anton Gomez-Escolar is one of the best specialists in this field in Spain. The Psychedelic Reawakening will also serve to provide the media with objective and accessible information on a subject that, although still unknown, will be the future of mental health treatment, at a time when it is more necessary than ever.” * José Carlos Bouso, Ph.D., scientific director of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Ed *

Author Information

Anton Gomez-Escolar, MSc, MPH, MIR, is a psychopharmacologist who works on psychedelic research, drug education, and harm reduction. He is the founder of Drogopedia, has worked at organizations like Energy Control and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), and has presented on psychedelics at several international forums, including the European Parliament and the United Nations. He is a member of the UNAD Global Drug Policy Commission, and cofounder and board member of the Spanish Society of Psychedelic Medicine (SEMPsi), the INAWE Foundation (for psychedelic science), and the Psychedelic Society of Madrid. He lives in Madrid.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions