This study will investigate the process of how use of the substance lysergic acid diethylamide–25... more This study will investigate the process of how use of the substance lysergic acid diethylamide–25 (LSD) became defined as socially unacceptable. It will investigate whether the characteristics attributed to it are an accurate reflection of the properties of the drug, or whether they have been socially constructed as a social problem. The study will begin by looking at the theories of social constructionism, followed by a brief history of LSD, including its medical, non-medical and recreational uses, and a discussion of the key figures involved in the sub-culture that developed. It will then look at the sociological and psychological implications of widespread use of LSD, both in terms of how they were socially constructed and how they contributed to its perception as a dangerous and controversial drug. Finally there will be a critical analysis of the development of this perception in terms of the construction of social problems.
Over the last three decades there have been radical changes in social, health and welfare service... more Over the last three decades there have been radical changes in social, health and welfare service provision in the United Kingdom that have been attributed to the influence of neo-liberalism on social policy and practice. These include measures to improve efficiency and cut costs through reducing public sector involvement in health and welfare; creating a competitive market amongst statutory and non-statutory service providers; a move to a more responsive ‘consumer led’ or ‘demand driven’ system of health and welfare provision and a promotion of the ethos of individual responsibility.
This study will look at the effect of neo-liberal policy and thinking on the provision of health and welfare services with particular reference to drug users. It will begin with a brief description of the historical basis of neo-liberalism, and an overview of its core principles. There will then follow a critical discussion of the effects this has on the provision of health and welfare services in this country, how its influence has affected historical and contemporary British Drug Policy and what the implications of this are for problematic drug users.
This paper examines the use of psychoactive substances such as Psilocybin, Mescaline, and LSD as ... more This paper examines the use of psychoactive substances such as Psilocybin, Mescaline, and LSD as adjuncts to mystical, religious or spiritual experiences. There is an analysis of the psychological changes and the changes in perception that these substances cause and how these can be interpreted as contributing to religious or spiritual enlightenment. There is also a discussion on the nature of what could be considered a religious experience.
An overview of the use of such ‘entheogenic’ drugs from an historical perspective follows, looking specifically at the use of Soma and its importance in the establishment of Hinduism; the Kykeon of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Ancient Greece; and the use
of the sacred mushroom ‘teonanacatl’ and its place in Central and South American Cultural History.
Current use of entheogens will be discussed, focusing on the use of Peyote by the Native American Church and the use of Ayahuasca by the Santo Daime and União de Vegetal (UDV) in Brazil.
Walter Pahkne’s ‘Experimental Examination of the Claim that Psychedelic Drug Experience May Resemble Mystical Experience’ (also known as the ‘Good Friday Experiment’) into the use of psilocybin in facilitating religious experiences is described and evaluated. The results of Pahnke’s experiment are compared to Griffiths et al’s 2006 study that sought to evaluate whether psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual
significance.
The paper ends with a critical evaluation of the validity of drug-induced mysticoreligious experiences and discusses and evaluates the objections to the use of entheogenic drugs particularly within the traditional religious framework of ‘Western
Society’.
Purpose: This paper evaluates some of the wider aims and potential consequences of maintaining re... more Purpose: This paper evaluates some of the wider aims and potential consequences of maintaining remand and short-term prisoners on methadone, rather than providing them with a rapid detoxification on first reception into prison. Consideration is given to the effects of methadone prescribing on treatment engagement; drug-related violence; treatment choice, including detoxification, maintenance and reduction doses; recidivism; and through care. Design/methodology/approach: The author draws on qualitative data gathered during a wider study involving drug-using prisoners and prison drug workers. Findings: Whilst participants reported advantages to the prescribing of methadone in prisons, such as reduced levels of bullying and drug-related violence in the prisons, they were also critical of many aspects of methadone prescribing which were intended to increase treatment choice, but in practice, often restricted choice. Drug workers reported that some drug-using prisoners were harder to engage with treatment when they were maintained on methadone. Research limitations: Data was gathered from two ‘local’ prisons in the same geographical area, and as such, the findings may not be applicable across the all prison service establishments. Nonetheless, they highlight important considerations and wider policy implications that could be applicable. Originality: Some hitherto unreported consequences of methadone prescribing in prisons are discussed, including its potential to increase, rather than decrease heroin use and accompanying crime.
This study will investigate the process of how use of the substance lysergic acid diethylamide–25... more This study will investigate the process of how use of the substance lysergic acid diethylamide–25 (LSD) became defined as socially unacceptable. It will investigate whether the characteristics attributed to it are an accurate reflection of the properties of the drug, or whether they have been socially constructed as a social problem. The study will begin by looking at the theories of social constructionism, followed by a brief history of LSD, including its medical, non-medical and recreational uses, and a discussion of the key figures involved in the sub-culture that developed. It will then look at the sociological and psychological implications of widespread use of LSD, both in terms of how they were socially constructed and how they contributed to its perception as a dangerous and controversial drug. Finally there will be a critical analysis of the development of this perception in terms of the construction of social problems.
Over the last three decades there have been radical changes in social, health and welfare service... more Over the last three decades there have been radical changes in social, health and welfare service provision in the United Kingdom that have been attributed to the influence of neo-liberalism on social policy and practice. These include measures to improve efficiency and cut costs through reducing public sector involvement in health and welfare; creating a competitive market amongst statutory and non-statutory service providers; a move to a more responsive ‘consumer led’ or ‘demand driven’ system of health and welfare provision and a promotion of the ethos of individual responsibility.
This study will look at the effect of neo-liberal policy and thinking on the provision of health and welfare services with particular reference to drug users. It will begin with a brief description of the historical basis of neo-liberalism, and an overview of its core principles. There will then follow a critical discussion of the effects this has on the provision of health and welfare services in this country, how its influence has affected historical and contemporary British Drug Policy and what the implications of this are for problematic drug users.
This paper examines the use of psychoactive substances such as Psilocybin, Mescaline, and LSD as ... more This paper examines the use of psychoactive substances such as Psilocybin, Mescaline, and LSD as adjuncts to mystical, religious or spiritual experiences. There is an analysis of the psychological changes and the changes in perception that these substances cause and how these can be interpreted as contributing to religious or spiritual enlightenment. There is also a discussion on the nature of what could be considered a religious experience.
An overview of the use of such ‘entheogenic’ drugs from an historical perspective follows, looking specifically at the use of Soma and its importance in the establishment of Hinduism; the Kykeon of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Ancient Greece; and the use
of the sacred mushroom ‘teonanacatl’ and its place in Central and South American Cultural History.
Current use of entheogens will be discussed, focusing on the use of Peyote by the Native American Church and the use of Ayahuasca by the Santo Daime and União de Vegetal (UDV) in Brazil.
Walter Pahkne’s ‘Experimental Examination of the Claim that Psychedelic Drug Experience May Resemble Mystical Experience’ (also known as the ‘Good Friday Experiment’) into the use of psilocybin in facilitating religious experiences is described and evaluated. The results of Pahnke’s experiment are compared to Griffiths et al’s 2006 study that sought to evaluate whether psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual
significance.
The paper ends with a critical evaluation of the validity of drug-induced mysticoreligious experiences and discusses and evaluates the objections to the use of entheogenic drugs particularly within the traditional religious framework of ‘Western
Society’.
Purpose: This paper evaluates some of the wider aims and potential consequences of maintaining re... more Purpose: This paper evaluates some of the wider aims and potential consequences of maintaining remand and short-term prisoners on methadone, rather than providing them with a rapid detoxification on first reception into prison. Consideration is given to the effects of methadone prescribing on treatment engagement; drug-related violence; treatment choice, including detoxification, maintenance and reduction doses; recidivism; and through care. Design/methodology/approach: The author draws on qualitative data gathered during a wider study involving drug-using prisoners and prison drug workers. Findings: Whilst participants reported advantages to the prescribing of methadone in prisons, such as reduced levels of bullying and drug-related violence in the prisons, they were also critical of many aspects of methadone prescribing which were intended to increase treatment choice, but in practice, often restricted choice. Drug workers reported that some drug-using prisoners were harder to engage with treatment when they were maintained on methadone. Research limitations: Data was gathered from two ‘local’ prisons in the same geographical area, and as such, the findings may not be applicable across the all prison service establishments. Nonetheless, they highlight important considerations and wider policy implications that could be applicable. Originality: Some hitherto unreported consequences of methadone prescribing in prisons are discussed, including its potential to increase, rather than decrease heroin use and accompanying crime.
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Papers by Hugh Asher
This study will look at the effect of neo-liberal policy and thinking on the provision of health and welfare services with particular reference to drug users. It will begin with a brief description of the historical basis of neo-liberalism, and an overview of its core principles. There will then follow a critical discussion of the effects this has on the provision of health and welfare services in this country, how its influence has affected historical and contemporary British Drug Policy and what the implications of this are for problematic drug users.
An overview of the use of such ‘entheogenic’ drugs from an historical perspective follows, looking specifically at the use of Soma and its importance in the establishment of Hinduism; the Kykeon of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Ancient Greece; and the use
of the sacred mushroom ‘teonanacatl’ and its place in Central and South American Cultural History.
Current use of entheogens will be discussed, focusing on the use of Peyote by the Native American Church and the use of Ayahuasca by the Santo Daime and União de Vegetal (UDV) in Brazil.
Walter Pahkne’s ‘Experimental Examination of the Claim that Psychedelic Drug Experience May Resemble Mystical Experience’ (also known as the ‘Good Friday Experiment’) into the use of psilocybin in facilitating religious experiences is described and evaluated. The results of Pahnke’s experiment are compared to Griffiths et al’s 2006 study that sought to evaluate whether psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual
significance.
The paper ends with a critical evaluation of the validity of drug-induced mysticoreligious experiences and discusses and evaluates the objections to the use of entheogenic drugs particularly within the traditional religious framework of ‘Western
Society’.
prisoners were harder to engage with treatment when they were maintained on methadone. Research limitations: Data was gathered from two ‘local’ prisons in the same geographical area, and as such, the findings may not be applicable across the all prison service establishments. Nonetheless, they highlight important considerations and wider policy implications that could be applicable. Originality: Some hitherto unreported consequences of methadone prescribing in prisons are discussed, including its potential to increase, rather than decrease heroin use and accompanying crime.
This study will look at the effect of neo-liberal policy and thinking on the provision of health and welfare services with particular reference to drug users. It will begin with a brief description of the historical basis of neo-liberalism, and an overview of its core principles. There will then follow a critical discussion of the effects this has on the provision of health and welfare services in this country, how its influence has affected historical and contemporary British Drug Policy and what the implications of this are for problematic drug users.
An overview of the use of such ‘entheogenic’ drugs from an historical perspective follows, looking specifically at the use of Soma and its importance in the establishment of Hinduism; the Kykeon of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Ancient Greece; and the use
of the sacred mushroom ‘teonanacatl’ and its place in Central and South American Cultural History.
Current use of entheogens will be discussed, focusing on the use of Peyote by the Native American Church and the use of Ayahuasca by the Santo Daime and União de Vegetal (UDV) in Brazil.
Walter Pahkne’s ‘Experimental Examination of the Claim that Psychedelic Drug Experience May Resemble Mystical Experience’ (also known as the ‘Good Friday Experiment’) into the use of psilocybin in facilitating religious experiences is described and evaluated. The results of Pahnke’s experiment are compared to Griffiths et al’s 2006 study that sought to evaluate whether psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual
significance.
The paper ends with a critical evaluation of the validity of drug-induced mysticoreligious experiences and discusses and evaluates the objections to the use of entheogenic drugs particularly within the traditional religious framework of ‘Western
Society’.
prisoners were harder to engage with treatment when they were maintained on methadone. Research limitations: Data was gathered from two ‘local’ prisons in the same geographical area, and as such, the findings may not be applicable across the all prison service establishments. Nonetheless, they highlight important considerations and wider policy implications that could be applicable. Originality: Some hitherto unreported consequences of methadone prescribing in prisons are discussed, including its potential to increase, rather than decrease heroin use and accompanying crime.