Psychedelic Hotel idea

EgoffTib · 11-20-09, 05:01 PM

Being an advocate of using psychedelic substances for therapy and spiritual growth, I have an idea and I am interested to see what DPers think about it.

It would essentially be a hotel, run by medical professionals(mainly clinical psychologists) where people could stay have guided psychedelic experiences under the supervision of doctors. This way, any "bad trips" could be dealt with by individuals who know how to counteract the effects of whichever drug was ingested. This offers a safe and extremely productive alternative to using substances unsupervised. Also, the user would know that the substance he was taking was actually the substance it was advertised to be. Because of the illegality and the drug market, a lot of things are sold under popular names but which are not the actual substances. A lot of what gets passed around as "Ecstasy" is not MDMA, but pills containing a wide array of substances from caffeine to heroine to 2c-B to speed.

Anyway, I was just curious to see what you guys have to say about this idea, good or bad.

Ikari · 11-20-09, 05:03 PM

I think people should be able to do as they want, and if you wanted such an establishment I don't have a problem with it. Ecstasy is horrible for people though, and other psychedelic drugs have very negative long term effects. But if people want to flip the middle finger to nature, let them.

EgoffTib · 11-20-09, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikari

I think people should be able to do as they want, and if you wanted such an establishment I don't have a problem with it.

I also think that people should do what they want with their bodies.

Quote:

Ecstasy is horrible for people though

Ecstasy abuse is horrible for people. It will fry your serotonin receptors. However, one must be using X on a relatively regular basis for a bit of time before anything like that occurs.

Quote:

and other psychedelic drugs have very negative long term effects.

I'll disagree. The main problem is that psychedelic drugs have not been studied long enough to evaluate the long-term effects. HPPD is always an issue, but it's not that much of a deterrent in my opinion.

Also, have you ever heard of Alexander Shulgin? The guy has synthesized and taken over 200 psychedelic substances and is still sharp as a tack, even though he is in his 80's now.

Quote:

But if people want to flip the middle finger to nature, let them.

Agreed.

Ikari · 11-20-09, 05:15 PM

The frying of serotonin receptors and other chemical producers/receptors in the brain begin to happen at trip #1.

EgoffTib · 11-20-09, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikari

The frying of serotonin receptors and other chemical producers/receptors in the brain begin to happen at trip #1.

Just because substances latch onto the receptors does not mean the receptors are being fried or damaged. The main factor is the individual's physiological makeup. Some people can take LSD and become schizophrenic. It varies by individual.

Ikari · 11-20-09, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EgoffTib

Just because substances latch onto the receptors does not mean the receptors are being fried or damaged. The main factor is the individual's physiological makeup. Some people can take LSD and become schizophrenic. It varies by individual.

Scientific study disagrees with you, but it's not a point I care much about. I like my brain, not going to do much to it to radically alter its operation and chemistry. If others want to destroy their brain, more power to them.

EgoffTib · 11-20-09, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikari

Scientific study disagrees with you, but it's not a point I care much about. I like my brain, not going to do much to it to radically alter its operation and chemistry. If others want to destroy their brain, more power to them.

Can you provide a link? If I'm wrong, I'd like to know.

Scarecrow Akhbar · 11-20-09, 06:18 PM

Well, no.

First, its too reminiscent of the opium dens of yore.

Second, there's issues of liability that would make insuring such an operation practically impossible.

That's just from matters of practicality. Speaking as a libertarian, I can't see any issues arising from people entering freely into a contract to perform services such as this. But society isn't mature enough to allow people their freedom to be truly and totally stupid.

Lightdemon · 11-20-09, 06:40 PM

Mental health and mental fitness aside... I'm going to try and look at it from a practicality perspective.

One problem that I see with this "hotel" idea is it's "doctors." Who will be willing to go through the schooling it takes to become a doctor only to become no more than a person who works at a Hookah Lounge? Even if they're nurses, the training required to be a nurse would probably over-qualify them for such a position at that "hotel." So I guess my question is, what "doctor" would be willing to work at such a place?

lizzie · 11-23-09, 07:47 AM

The primary problem I have with what you are suggesting, is that those people who managed to really screw themselves up after going to the "hotel" would expect the rest of us to pay for their screwed-up selves for the rest of their screwed-up lives. In my observation, the vast majority of regular joes are nowhere near being ready for personal insight or enlightenment. It is fuel for a fire that will burn them.
Other than that, if people want to take the risk, it's fine with me as long as the rest of us are not required to pay for it.

11-20-09, 05:01 PM	#1
EgoffTib DP's Resident Psychonaut Join Date: Sep 2008 Last Seen: 02-05-10 03:08 PM Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 5,590 Thanks: 3,837 Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,140 Posts Lean: Libertarian Gender:	Psychedelic Hotel idea Being an advocate of using psychedelic substances for therapy and spiritual growth, I have an idea and I am interested to see what DPers think about it. It would essentially be a hotel, run by medical professionals(mainly clinical psychologists) where people could stay have guided psychedelic experiences under the supervision of doctors. This way, any "bad trips" could be dealt with by individuals who know how to counteract the effects of whichever drug was ingested. This offers a safe and extremely productive alternative to using substances unsupervised. Also, the user would know that the substance he was taking was actually the substance it was advertised to be. Because of the illegality and the drug market, a lot of things are sold under popular names but which are not the actual substances. A lot of what gets passed around as "Ecstasy" is not MDMA, but pills containing a wide array of substances from caffeine to heroine to 2c-B to speed. Anyway, I was just curious to see what you guys have to say about this idea, good or bad.
	__________________ "With your birth, the universe changed. The God-mind saw itself as never before. In your ears, all sound was re-created. With you, The One unfolds a new story."

11-20-09, 05:03 PM	#2
Ikari Sage Join Date: Dec 2006 Last Seen: 02-03-10 04:09 PM Location: Colorado Posts: 8,870 Thanks: 691 Thanked 4,226 Times in 2,430 Posts Lean: Libertarian Gender:	Re: Psychedelic Hotel idea I think people should be able to do as they want, and if you wanted such an establishment I don't have a problem with it. Ecstasy is horrible for people though, and other psychedelic drugs have very negative long term effects. But if people want to flip the middle finger to nature, let them.
	__________________ WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

11-20-09, 05:15 PM	#4
Ikari Sage Join Date: Dec 2006 Last Seen: 02-03-10 04:09 PM Location: Colorado Posts: 8,870 Thanks: 691 Thanked 4,226 Times in 2,430 Posts Lean: Libertarian Gender:	Re: Psychedelic Hotel idea The frying of serotonin receptors and other chemical producers/receptors in the brain begin to happen at trip #1.
	__________________ WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

11-20-09, 06:18 PM	#8
Scarecrow Akhbar Sage Join Date: Sep 2005 Last Seen: Today 12:46 PM Location: Los Angeles Posts: 9,562 Thanks: 144 Thanked 1,756 Times in 1,240 Posts Lean: Independent Gender:	Re: Psychedelic Hotel idea Well, no. First, its too reminiscent of the opium dens of yore. Second, there's issues of liability that would make insuring such an operation practically impossible. That's just from matters of practicality. Speaking as a libertarian, I can't see any issues arising from people entering freely into a contract to perform services such as this. But society isn't mature enough to allow people their freedom to be truly and totally stupid.
	__________________ Treat your Congressman like your underwear. Change often.

11-23-09, 07:47 AM	#10
lizzie Educator Join Date: Oct 2009 Last Seen: Yesterday 11:31 PM Location: In an alternate dimension Posts: 1,060 Thanks: 434 Thanked 332 Times in 248 Posts Lean: Private Gender:	Re: Psychedelic Hotel idea The primary problem I have with what you are suggesting, is that those people who managed to really screw themselves up after going to the "hotel" would expect the rest of us to pay for their screwed-up selves for the rest of their screwed-up lives. In my observation, the vast majority of regular joes are nowhere near being ready for personal insight or enlightenment. It is fuel for a fire that will burn them. Other than that, if people want to take the risk, it's fine with me as long as the rest of us are not required to pay for it.

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