Many researchers have noted a connection between near–death experiences (NDE), which occur as a result of life-threatening situations, and the experiences produced by the consumption of various psychedelic drugs (like DMT or ayahuasca). A group of American scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Sweeney, Nayak, Hurwitz, Mitchell, Swift, and Griffiths) decided to approach the issue more globally by expanding the research to include all popular psychedelics.
The authors attracted more than three thousand volunteers, dividing them into five groups based on their experiences produced by:
1. Psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms)
2. LSD (popularly known as acid)
3. Ayahuasca (hallucinogenic drink popular with Amazonian shamans).
4. DMT (plant-derived psychedelic)
5. A situation of clinical death or other non-ordinary experiences had without the use of substances. The “other non-ordinary” experience included reports of leaving the body and communicating with the dead.
In general, striking similarities were found between the experiences of all groups both in terms of the participants’ accounts, and in terms of long-term internal changes, including a decrease in the fear of death, increased personal well-being, and an understanding of the meaning of life. DMT and ayahuasca were found to produce the most powerful mystical experiences. Nevertheless, participants who did not take drugs were more likely to rate their experience as spiritually significant.
As the researchers add, it makes sense to study the benefits of these substances to reduce the fear of death and anxiety that often accompany the end of life.
Do you have any experience of taking such substances?
The article was published in August 2022 in the journal PLoS ONE.
Drugs and plants may have side effects and should only be used in consultation with a doctor. This article does not call for independent experiments.
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