Harm Reduction
Ancient Awakenings Temple of the Healing Arts (AATHA) is dedicated to harm reduction in our medicine space. We have implemented many valuable practices to help support our guests before, during, and after their medicine journey. Our beautiful setting provides a place where our minds can be at ease as we do this medicine work. Our highly trained and experienced facilitators will be there to guide the guests through their preparation, and then throughout the retreat. This support will continue with 1-on-1 integration as well as weekly integrations. With this harm reduction model, guests are provided with a safe and sacred container to do their medicine work while minimizing risk.
In spaces where medicine is consumed, harm reduction is an essential component. Harm reduction provides a framework for practices before, during, and after sitting with the medicine (Palmer & Maynard, 2022). Methodologies are identified that provide for the safety of those communing with the medicine. Harm reduction also helps facilitators present themselves in a way to help eliminate any stigmas surrounding medicine work and the use of medicines in general.
Before the medicine is consumed, participants are put through a preparation process. Participants are provided with information so that they are prepared once they consume the medicine. Pilecki et al. (2021) state that a good harm-reduction model provides those consuming the medicine with tools they can use to help them navigate the medicine space. Understanding the positive and negative aspects of the medicine is vital for a competent harm-reduction practice (Pilecki et al., 2021). The necessary provisions for this critical medicine work are provided to participants.
Here at AATHA, a variety of tools are provided to aid in this process. Before the retreats, participants are provided with suggestions that they can use to prepare their minds and bodies to receive the medicine. Participants are allowed to attend weekly integration classes and get familiar with the space. They are encouraged to ask questions and are provided with information about how the medicine works and what they can expect during their retreat weekend. During the retreats, participants are informed of tools that can be used during their medicine ceremony.
At AATHA, a natural setting is provided allowing guests to connect naturally and more deeply with Mother Earth. Providing a safe space to experience the medicine is vital to the harm reduction model (Noorani, 2020). Palmer and Maynard (2022) expand on this, stating that providing a safe setting leads to a feeling of safety within the mindset of the participant. This is an essential component of the medicine experience for participants to have a positive experience as they traverse the psychedelic journey.
Some of the other components of our harm reduction model are very practical. Participants are provided healthy meals throughout their time at AATHA. We Maintain a small group size for a more personalized experience; ceremonies generally maintain a 2:1 guest-to-facilitator ratio. During a journey, guests are cared for by experienced facilitators who have been called to the medicine and trained in medicine space. Guests are never left alone once they have consumed the medicine, and they are required to stay in the ceremony space until they are released after ceremony is complete and the medicine has done its work.
Once guests have completed a medicine retreat, support is continually provided for their integration. A robust integration program allows guiding the course of an experience both consciously and subconsciously. SAMHSA (2023) states that we should implement strategies that promote healthy lives that are full of purpose and empowerment. Pilecki et al. (2021) remind us to help participants set new goals and develop new habits.
Post-ceremony, 1-on-1 integration calls are provided for each participant which allows an integration program to be tailored to fit their needs. Weekly integration classes provide a platform for this work to continue and give the added support of community. Providing a safe and comfortable environment before, during, and after the medicine work is essential in a harm reduction practice (Palmer & Maynard, 2022). Here at AATHA, creating and maintaining these safe, sacred spaces is a central component of our value system.
The National Harm Reduction Coalition (2023) lists eight principles that have been identified as essential when focusing on harm reduction.
1. Understand that medicine is being used and do not condemn or ignore those who have decided to consume the medicine.
2. Realize that medicine use is different for everyone and that some ways of interacting with medicine are safer than others.
3. Focus on how the participant functions in life and their wellness.
4. Establish a program that provides information and services with the focus of reducing any harm that could be caused by working with the medicine.
5. Provide a platform for participants to voice their opinions and provide input on the services being offered.
6. Encourage participants to take responsibility for implementing harm reduction strategies and sharing these strategies with others in the community.
7. Understand that everyone is different and that many factors influence their capacity to implement harm-reduction strategies.
8. Do not minimize the potential harm in using the medicine.
Our response to these is as follows:
1. We have dedicated our lives to creating a safe, sacred container where people can come and experience this beautiful medicine. We do not ignore them but instead, give them access to the container that is required.
2. We take a medical intake for all of our guests so that we can better prepare them for their work with the medicine. We know the medicine will work differently for all people giving us what we need and not what we want. We emphasize that the medicine can produce different effects for different people.
3. We check in with our guests regularly to see how they are functioning in life and their level of wellness. We provide weekly access to integration to discuss these things in detail.
4. We provide access to information that allows our guests to work with the medicine in the best possible way. We give them suggestions to prepare mind, body, and soul for this important work.
5. We offer our weekly call to allow input on our services if guests want to share in this manner. We also provide a private survey link where they can also give anonymous feedback.
6. We encourage our guests to put these suggestions into practice. We follow up with them weekly to see if they are doing the recommended preparation or integration. We encourage them to share these practices with others.
7. We are gentle on ourselves and our guests understanding that we are all in different places in our walk. We know that a harm reduction model may be challenging to follow and all we ask is that our participants do their best.
8. We are clear with our guests about any side effects that could be considered negative, and we offer support for dealing with these challenges.
References
National Harm Reduction Coalition. (2023, September 29). Principals of Harm Reduction. Retrieved from National Harm Reduction Coalition: https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/
Noorani, T. (2020, March 1). Making psychedelics into medicines: The politics and paradoxes of medicalization. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 4(1), 34-39.
Palmer, M., & Maynard, O. (2022, June 28). Are you tripping comfortably? Investigating the relationship between harm reduction and the psychedelic experience. Harm Reduction Journal, 19(81). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00662-0
Pilecki, B., Luoma, J. B., Bathje, G. J., Rhea, J., & Narloch, V. F. (2021, April 7). Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy. Harm Reduction Journal, 18(40). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00489-1
SAMHSA. (2023, September 29). Harm Reduction. Retrieved from SAMHSA: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction