Bia Labate est une anthropologue dont les centres d'intérêt de recherche se situent à l'intersection des substances psychoactives, des politiques en matière de drogues, du chamanisme, des rituels et de la religion. Son travail explore les dimensions culturelles et sociétales profondes de ces sujets complexes. À travers sa lentille anthropologique, elle examine la relation complexe entre la psyché humaine, les pratiques rituelles et les traditions spirituelles. Ses analyses offrent des perspectives précieuses sur la manière dont ces éléments façonnent les sociétés humaines et les expériences individuelles.
Looks at the emergence of religious groups in the Brazilian Amazon who constitute their systems of ritual, myth and principles around the use of a psychoactive brew known by diverse names, one of which is Quechua term 'ayahuasca.' This book seeks to explain research conducted in Brazil, most of which has been conducted by Brazilian researchers.
This book explores the use and regulation of traditional drugs like peyote, ayahuasca, coca leaf, cannabis, khat, and Salvia divinorum, highlighting their roles at the intersection of politics, medicine, shamanism, religion, aesthetics, knowledge transmission, socialization, and celebration. It analyzes how these psychoactive plants have been integrated and regulated in Western societies through national legislation and United Nations Drug Conventions. The focus includes global court cases concerning religious use and the legal definitions of “religion,” while also addressing human rights and cognitive liberty related to drug consumption. Emphasizing various cultural and historical contexts, the collection encourages reflection on contemporary drug use and offers alternatives to current prohibitionist policies, which often contribute to illicit and violent markets. By examining the complexities of traditional drug regulation, this volume engages with concepts such as origin, place, authenticity, and tradition, connecting drug policy to broader social science discussions.
This book is a collection of studies of drug policies in several Latin American countries. The chapters analyze the specific histories of drug policies in each country, as well as related phenomena and case studies throughout the region. It presents conceptual reflections on the origins of prohibition and the “War on Drugs,” including the topic of human rights and cognitive freedom. Further, the collection reflects on the pioneering role of some Latin American countries in changing paradigms of international drug policy. Each case study provides an analysis of where each state is now in terms of policy reform within the context of its history and current socio-political circumstances. Concurrently, local movements, initiatives, and backlash against the reformist debate within the hemisphere are examined. The recent changes regarding the regulation of marijuana in the United States and their possible impact on Latin America are also addressed. This work is an important, up-to-date and well-researched reference for all who are interested in drug policy from a Latin American perspective.
This book presents a series of perspectives on the therapeutic potential of the ritual and clinical use of the Amazonian hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca in the treatment and management of various diseases and ailments, especially its role in psychological well-being and substance dependence. Biomedical and anthropological data on the use of ayahuasca for treating depression, PTSD, and substance dependence in different settings, such as indigenous contexts, neo-shamanic rituals, contemporary therapeutic circles, and in ayahuasca religions, in both South and North America, are presented and critiqued. Though multiple anecdotal reports on the therapeutic use of ayahuasca exist, there has been no systematic and dense reflection on the topic thus far. The book brings the therapeutic use of ayahuasca to a new level of public examination and academic debate. The texts in this volume stimulate discussion on methodological, ethical, and political aspects of research and will enhance the development of this emergent field of studies.
This is a fascinating compilation of medical, psychological and sociological papers on the spread of ayahuasca use through new religious movements in Brazil and in several European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands), as well as the USA. Much appropriate consideration is given to its controversial legal status and the emergence of new social-legal frameworks to accommodate the healing potentials of this remarkable plant medicine. Highly recommended for serious students of this subject.