Rita Kočárová

Biography

Rita Kočárová, PhD candidate, MSc is a junior researcher at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the research program of Social Psychiatry and in the ongoing psilocybin study, PhD student of clinical psychology at Charles University in Prague, trainee of Gestalt therapy and executive director of Beyond Psychedelics - multidisciplinary global forum on psychedelics. She is also a co-founder of Czech Psychedelic Society. She focuses on mechanism of functioning of psychedelics on psychological level, therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs, especially psilocybin, ayahuasca and natiral substances containing 5-MeO-DMT, use of psychedelics and deliriants in 60s, and also complex approach to the addictions. She was at the research internship in Takiwasi Center in Peru in 2014. She is a program coordinator of International Transpersonal Conference 2017.

Revisiting the "Psychedelic Renaissance"

As humans, we have had interactions with psychoactive substances in a variety of contexts throughout our history. Those often powerful interactions will be explored from the perspectives of epistemiology, safety, morality, their nature and effect. Main underlying driving forces of this relationship will be discussed. There are many adverse effects and risks related to the use of psychedelics often not presented appropriately in the society. Psychoactive substances can be powerful tools in facilitating sanity or illness, joy or fear, war or peace; depending on what, who and how is using them. There is no sensible reason why psychedelics should not be legal, or, to use a more specific term, rationally regulated. We have to move towards creating an intelligent society which treats psychoactive substances responsibly and safely. To do so, besides rigorous clinical research, also review of the history, an acceptance of the rich variety of their use, proper evaluation of their real risks and safety, their representation in society and relationship they have with us as a humans are necessary.