Description

The Psychedelic Research society is a platform for open discussion and resource sharing of psychedelic research, culture, and drug-related welfare. As a conduit for education on drugs and psychedelics, we approach these themes with utmost respect and responsibility.

In light of the "Third Wave" of psychedelic research, we also aim to address the taboo around psychedelic culture by building our inquiry from a foundation of shared experience, evidence-based research, and harm reduction. From this foundation, we aim to connect our members with a breadth of interconnecting themes from the cosmos to consciousness.

So whether you're a psilocybin psychonaut or simply psycurious, we encourage open-mindedness and open-heartedness as we explore the relationships between mind-altering drugs, plant medicines, the human condition, and beyond! 


Who can join?   

Anyone! Inclusivity, openness, and non-judgment are founding principles of the Psychedelic Research Society. Within our society, there are people who have experimented with consciousness before, and others who have not! So whichever category you fall into, we want you to know that whether you have taken substances before or not, there are no prerequisites or conditions for joining our society. Among our exploration into psychedelics and drugs, we are also interested in non-drug induced ways of altering consciousness which can enrich our lives should we choose to be sober, and at the same time also provide us with the skills and tools to be able to more effectively navigate the psychedelic experience, should we choose to do so. This is why we maintain that our events are open to absolutely anybody from all walks of life - whether an accomplished psychonaut or simply psycurious, we invite you with open arms!
 

What do we do 

From Psychedelic Harm Reduction workshops, lectures, and Psychedelic nights-out, to running events with Bristol SU "All about Drugs" Campaign and directing students to harm reduction services at the University, we run all kinds of events! The possibilities for innovation and collaboration are as myriad as mushrooms' mycelia!

We are always looking to bring in new speakers and creators, and that's why we'd like to receive as many of your requests as possible when it comes to running events.

• Are you interested in potential treatments for depression and PTSD with psychedelic assisted therapy?
• The possible role of psychedelics in human evolution?
• How about the relationship between the neuroscience of shamanism?
• Is there a society you love that you think we could collaborate with?

Let us know and we will do our utmost to make sure all our member's interests are catered for. This society is all about you, so feel so free to message us on Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or email if you have some ideas or even some ways we could improve. To get an idea of what kind of talks we do, take a look below. 





Our Aims 

• To address the taboo around psychedelic culture; a vestige of a bygone era of harmful drug policies which have demonised users and systematically suppressed constructive, open dialogue surrounding these powerful compounds at great economic and social expense. In the light of the latest scientific research, we aim to serve as a conduit for education on drugs and Psychedelics whilst approaching this theme with utmost respect and responsibility and with an atmosphere of openness, non-judgement and compassion. 

• To recognise the complexities and interconnectedness associated with rising mental health issues and drug/alcohol misuse. Furthermore, we acknowledge the widening gap between emerging information and accessibility to these treatments, posing new risks considering the high rates of attempted self-medication in Universities. (Nus.org.uk). Building on a foundation of safety, we intend to connect members with pre-existing, trialed and tested harm reduction frameworks whilst working closely with Bristol SU to deliver drug testing kits. http://www.codecomputerlove.com/, C. (2019). Drug Survey Press Release. [online] Nus.org.uk. Available at: https://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/press-releases/drug-survey-press-release/ [Accessed 25 Dec. 2019].

• To provide opportunities for academics and guest speakers to present work relating to the aims of the society, thereby connecting academics and students from a variety of scholarly backgrounds and promoting multidisciplinary and collaborative opportunities. Due to the breadth of themes,  Psychedelic Research is relevant to students and academics from areas diverse as neuroscience, medicine, public policy, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, psychology, theology and pharmacology to name just a few. We hope that our themes will bridge gaps between undergraduates and academic staff, forming an inclusive and diverse community of passionate and inquisitive individuals.

• We believe in Cognitive Liberty, described as "the right of each individual to think independently and autonomously, to use the full power of his or her mind, and to engage in multiple modes of thought". 

History

Like many nodes connected to the cultural movements of history The Psychedelic Research Society began after a small group of students started meeting regularly at Univesity cafes, pubs and venues in Bristol in the Autumn of 2019. Impassioned, open and exciting conversations began to fill these rooms, and the socials began to form the lifeblood of the society. Shared curiosity about the potential for psychedelic plants and medicines to offer treatment, healing and expansion of consciousness for both society and the self had brought us all together, gathering in spaces where discussions about these powerful compounds could happen freely without judgment or stigma. 

Around this time, the SU had just changed their policy to harm reduction, coming off the back of very revealing research about both the potential harms but also potential benefits of different substances. Increasingly, more and more students and staff began to notice the need to not only address the tabboo around drugs and psychedelics but to begin to provide better services to help students make more informed and responsible decisions when it came to altering their consciousness. Whether with ketamine, magic mushrooms, LSD, caffeine or alcohol, the general attitude towards drugs and users at the University, in the city and even around the globe, was slowly beginning to change in the wake of the latest scientific research known as "The Third Wave". 

After our launch, we immediately went into lockdown and learned to adapt to running events online. In doing so, we invited many engaging researchers, speakers, and creators to share their research and insight with us over online video talks. Finally, in the Autumn of 2021, we all had the ineffable joy of finally meeting one another and the energy was nothing less than ecstatic. Clearly, the society was attracting students from all disciplines and all walks of life started coming out of the woodwork, to gather in 3D space to share their interests with such playfulness, curiosity, compassion and openness. We all knew this would be the start of a beautiful journey, and we are still just getting started!

All our love and appreciation, The Committee