We Meet Again: In a Historic Convergence, Psychedelics and Boomers Reimagine Older Age
I decided to take one longer post and divide it into two (brevity is a virtue, especially in this holiday season). So this is the second of what will be a three-part series inspired by the INSPIRE clinical trial…
In my previous post, I wrote about INSPIRE1 - a new NIH-funded clinical trial examining for the first time the safety and efficacy of psychedelics specifically in older adults. But there is another goal from the study materials I’d like to focus on:
“…to explore how facilitated psychedelic experiences can safely foster well-being, reflection, and meaning-making in the context of normal aging.” 2
This statement raises several important points:
First, to the best of my knowledge, this is the first attempt to scientifically evaluate the effects of psychedelics on the psychological experience of “normal aging”.
Also noteworthy are the explicit assumptions that: a) “well-being, reflection and meaning-making” are positive values associated with normal aging, and b) that they (could) be safely fostered with psychedelics.
In terms of psychedelic research, this focus on healthy aging breaks important new ground. And as an observer of real-life psychedelic use among older adults, I believe the timing could not be more fortuitous.
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We are now experiencing a historic crossing of paths. On one side, millions of baby boomers are entering older age, searching for meaning in our ageist, death-phobic society.
At the same time, psychedelics are coming back to meet them, supported by new guidelines for safe and meaningful practice. And even the most conservative research institutions are recognizing their potential for meeting the psycho-spiritual needs of aging.
Even without scientific validation and despite limited legal options, a growing number of older adults are making their own risk/benefit assessments - believing these experiences may have something meaningful to offer them at this time in their lives.
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Once upon a time, it was thought that children are just little adults. Today, in the absence of a model of older age that suits their sensibilities, many boomers tend to approach this stage of life as young adulthood in an aging body.
But something very interesting is percolating under the surface. With very little fanfare, boomers are rewriting the script of what older age looks and feels like (spoiler: its very different from our parents). And for an indeterminate number, a new – or renewed – interest in psychedelics is adding vision to that process.
From my conversations with older psychonauts, one of the many insights they’re discovering is that they embody – and can access - all the stages of life they’ve ever lived – the freedom and wonder of youth, the pleasures and exploration of adulthood, and the wisdom and perspective of lives fully lived. And that, by making space for all those identities, elderhood can become the most fulfilling, meaningful and enjoyable time of their lives.
In my next post, I’ll unpack what Wellness, Reflection and Meaning-making through psychedelic exploration look like in real life, drawing from my forthcoming book.
And in the meantime, I had a very enjoyable interview with April Pride talking about Psychedelics and Meaning-Making in Older Life. That will be posted on her Set/Set Substack on January 6.
On February 5th, April is hosting the Psychedelic Salon at the Seattle Town Hall, focused on Psychedelics and Seniors. Tickets for attending and Live Streaming available here.
1 INnovation in Science of Psychedelics with Inclusive Research in Elders
2 PSYCHEDELIC ELDERS ADVISORY PANEL PRE-MEETING PACKAGE
❤️🙌🏼