Peyote as Earth Medicine: Examining How Symbolic Meanings Shape Experiences With Psychedelics
Heith Copes, Jared Ragland
The British Journal of Criminology October 7, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azad058 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Photo-ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People who use peyote in religious ceremonies |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | The symbolic meaning of peyote as an 'earth medicine' justifies its use and directs how and when it is used, distancing it from other drugs and encouraging continued use. |
Abstract
Narrative criminology prioritizes personal narratives for explaining past behaviours and shaping future decisions. Using this perspective, we rely on data from a photo-ethnography with people who use peyote in religious ceremonies to understand how their discourses about peyote shape their experiences with it. We find that participants define peyote as an ‘earth medicine’ that helps with healing (physical, spiritual and psychological) and thus should be respected. This narrative dictates how and when they use it (e.g. with intention and not recreationally), distances from other drugs (which are regarded as harmful) and directs their physiological experiences. Findings suggest that the symbolic meaning associated with specific drugs justifies using it and directs and encourages continued use. Thus, understanding drug use requires examining how discourse about specific drugs are incorporated into personal narratives.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Use of Peyote as Treatment for Alcoholism within the NAC Community: Reflections on a Study | 2011 | Interview | |
| Psychedelic trip sitting, dosages and intensities: Supplementing clinical studies with anecdotal reports Posts from online psychedelic forums (The Shroomery and DMT Nexus) on trip sitting | 2024 | Qualitative study with Delphi-style expert panel review | n = 660 |
| Hitting the Reset Button: Ceremonial Use of Peyote and Experiences of Personal Change People who attended peyote ceremonies in rural Northcentral Alabama | 2024 | Photo-ethnography | |
| The San Pedro Cactus (Equinopsis pachanoi): Ancestral and Modern Therapeutic Uses in Peru Curanderos in the Túcume district of northern Peru | 2025 | Qualitative study | |
| The Trouble With Psychedelic Cacti: Conflicting Meanings of San Pedro and Peyote | 2025 | Autoethnography |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Hitting the Reset Button: Ceremonial Use of Peyote and Experiences of Personal Change Journal of Drug Issues August 22, 2024
- A psilocybin haven: the use of comparison to legitimate transgression at a psychedelic retreat Drugs Education Prevention and Policy October 9, 2024
- From Outsider to Insider: A Look at the Subculture of Microdosing Deviant Behavior March 31, 2024
- “Plants Don’t Have a Culture to Appropriate”: Accounting for Accusations of Cultural Appropriation of Peyote Ceremonies Sociology Compass February 26, 2025
Cites 11
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Classical psychedelics for the treatment of depression and anxiety: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders November 1, 2019
- Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences. International Journal of Drug Policy 2021
- Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction International Journal of Drug Policy November 25, 2019
- Values and Beliefs of Psychedelic Drug Users: A Cross-Cultural Study Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 1, 2006
and 6 more in the library