Researcher embraces terminal cancer diagnosis with groundbreaking psychedelic studies
Johns Hopkins Researcher's Legacy Advances Psychedelic Research
Roland Griffiths, a renowned psychopharmacologist and neuroscientist, passed away on Oct. 16, 2023, leaving behind a significant legacy in the field of psychedelic research. His groundbreaking work at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (CPCR) has re-established psychedelics as legitimate objects of academic and clinical inquiry after decades of prohibition.
Griffiths founded the CPCR, the world's most prominent psychedelic research institution, in 2000. The centre aims to advance scientific understanding of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, in relation to well-being, mental health treatment, and spiritual experiences.
Griffiths' work has focused on controlled clinical research demonstrating that psilocybin induces profound mystical and spiritual experiences that participants often rate as among the most meaningful of their lives. His research has shown significant therapeutic benefits for treating depression and nicotine addiction with psychedelic drugs. A single dose of psilocybin was found to have a profound reduction in end-of-life anxiety for people with cancer.
Griffiths' curiosity and reverence for the mystery of the human experience were evident in his work. He often pondered questions about the nature of death and the afterlife, believing that the probability of afterlife and continuity of consciousness was a diminishingly small probability. Yet, he approached these questions with great interest and respect, viewing the process of dying as one of interest rather than fear.
Griffiths' significant experience with LSD occurred after his cancer diagnosis. During his journey, he negotiated with his cancer, asking for more time but receiving no answer. However, he found solace in the experience, stating that he was doing exactly what he should be doing and that there was something he had to say about his situation.
Before his diagnosis, Griffiths had about 30 years of meditation experience. This experience likely influenced his approach to psychedelics, as he sought to integrate spiritual and psychological dimensions in his research. The CPCR strives to deepen understanding of consciousness and promote new therapies that respect the subjective, meaningful nature of psychedelic experiences in people’s lives.
Griffiths' interview in January 2023 was the first time he talked about his own experiences with psychedelics. He shared that he had a great curiosity and a great reverence for the nature of the mystery. He believed that we are living within a mystery that far outstrips our science and ability to understand what's going on.
Griffiths' legacy project, the CPCR, will continue to advance our understanding of psychedelics and their potential for enhancing human well-being and enriching knowledge about mystical states of consciousness. His work has set the stage for a new era of psychedelic research, one that seeks to validate and harness the therapeutic and spiritual potential of these substances.
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