The Politics of Nixon & Psychedelics.
How Government Policies and Societal Stigmas Hinder Healing and Consciousness, a violation of women’s rights and autonomy.
Is it possible that Nixon stunted social consciousness resulting in social stigma and bigotry separating single mothers and their children?
Examining the Intersection of Drugs, Adoption Trauma, and the War on Consciousness.
Introduction
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, particularly Psilocybin, for a range of mental health conditions. However, the use of these substances remains illegal in many countries, including the United States, where they are classified as Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. This legal status, along with societal attitudes towards psychedelics, has hindered research into their therapeutic potential and prevented many individuals from accessing potentially life-changing treatments.
In this article, we will explore the intersection of government policies, societal attitudes, and personal trauma related to adoption and how they have impacted access to Psilocybin-assisted therapy. We will also discuss potential solutions for addressing these issues and promoting greater awareness and acceptance of this promising form of healing.
Government Policies and the War on Drugs:
The criminalization of psychedelics in the United States can be traced back to the Nixon administration’s “War on Drugs” in the 1970s. This campaign targeted a range of substances, including Psilocybin, which was associated with the counterculture movement of the time. Despite evidence of the therapeutic potential of these substances, they were classified as Schedule 1 drugs, effectively ending legal research into their potential benefits.
Since then, the stigma surrounding psychedelics has persisted, with many policymakers and members of the public viewing them as dangerous and addictive drugs. This perception has hindered efforts to promote greater awareness of their potential therapeutic benefits and has limited access to Psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Societal Attitudes and Adoption Trauma:
In addition to government policies, societal attitudes towards psychedelics have also played a role in limiting access to Psilocybin-assisted therapy. Many people still view psychedelics as “drugs” with no legitimate medical use, and may not understand their potential therapeutic benefits. This lack of understanding can prevent individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly related to adoption, from seeking out this form of treatment.
Adoption trauma can have long-lasting effects on individuals, including depression, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection from others. Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promise in helping individuals address these issues by promoting neuroplasticity, allowing individuals to form new connections in their brains and reframe traumatic experiences.
Potential Solutions:
To address these issues, greater awareness and education are needed about the therapeutic potential of Psilocybin and other psychedelics-assisted Therapies. This includes both education for policymakers and members of the public, as well as greater access to legal research into their potential benefits.
In addition, greater attention should be paid to the potential for Psilocybin-assisted therapy to help individuals who have experienced trauma related to adoption. This includes the development of specialized treatment protocols and training for healthcare professionals in this area.
During the “Babyscoop Era” of the mid-twentieth century, many unwed mothers were coerced or forced into giving up their children for adoption, often without their consent or knowledge. This was a deeply traumatic experience for many families and individuals, and it is now widely recognized as a form of human trafficking.
Is it possible that greater development of social consciousness could have taken place in the wake of the counterculture movement (which was associated with the use of psychedelics) and could have led to different attitudes and policies towards adoption and child welfare? For example, a greater emphasis on individual rights and autonomy, as well as a greater awareness of the potential harms of separating children from their biological families.
Conclusion in Irony:
The irony of the situation is that the ban on Psilocybin and other psychedelics, which was intended to protect public health and safety, may have actually hindered the development of social consciousness and prevented those affected by forced adoption from accessing potentially beneficial psychosocial healing. This ban was enforced during a time when forced adoption was a prevalent issue in society, particularly in the Baby Scoop Era, which some have characterized as government-sanctioned human trafficking.
The use of Psilocybin and other psychedelics has been shown to have therapeutic effects for a range of mental health conditions, including trauma-related disorders. The potential benefits of these substances for individuals who have experienced trauma related to adoption cannot be ignored. It is a tragedy that these substances have been stigmatized and criminalized, hindering access to potentially life-changing treatments.
If these substances had not been banned, society may have evolved to address the issues of forced adoption and child welfare more proactively, potentially avoiding the harm that was inflicted on countless individuals and families. The prohibition of Psilocybin and other psychedelics may have inadvertently contributed to a broader culture of silence and denial around these issues, ultimately perpetuating the harm that was inflicted on those affected by forced adoption.
In some cases, institutions and hospitals used drugs such as scopolamine and Tuinal to sedate and confuse these women, making it easier for them to be separated from their children.
Scopolamine is a powerful drug that can cause sedation, amnesia, and confusion. It was commonly used in hospitals at the time as a preoperative medication to calm patients before surgery. However, some institutions also used scopolamine to sedate and control unwed mothers who were in their care. The drug was sometimes administered without the mother’s knowledge or consent, leaving them disoriented and unable to make informed decisions about their own care and the care of their child.
Tuinal, a combination of amobarbital and secobarbital, was another drug commonly used to sedate and control unwed mothers. It was often given to these women to help them “relax” and “forget” their experience of giving birth and being separated from their child. However, the use of Tuinal and other sedatives in these circumstances was often coercive, and many women were not given a choice in the matter and medical records were likely destroyed.
The use of drugs like scopolamine and Tuinal to control and sedate unwed mothers in forced adoption is a tragic chapter in the history of adoption and childbirth in the United States and around the world.
