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Psychedelics as a Treatment for Chronic Pain and Illness
May 20, 2023 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm PDT
Curious about the potential use of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of chronic pain and illness?
Join LAMPS (The Los Angeles Medicinal Psychedelics Society) for an illuminating panel discussion on the healing potential of psychedelic medicines for chronic pain and illness.
Together, we will discuss the latest research and findings on the use of psychedelics in the treatment of conditions like TBIs, Lyme’s Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and chronic pain due to injury.
TOPIC
Can psychedelics offer reprieve to those suffering from chronic pain or illness? How might they influence the role that these conditions play in a patient’s life? Is it possible to change the way we approach healthcare in a society that feels so overtaken by profit-driven pharmaceutical companies?
Roughly 20% of the global population lives with chronic pain, and 33% suffer from multiple chronic conditions. This number is growing.
Individuals struggling with chronic pain and/or illness often report feeling misunderstood or invalidated, and the downstream implications are considerable. Existing medications tend to be habit-forming, ineffective, and/or carry unwanted side effects. Further, these treatments rarely address the psychological impact of the conditions, which can be significant. Individuals living with a chronic illness or chronic pain often feel deeply isolated, compounding their struggles.
Join us for an illuminating panel discussion on the healing potential of psychedelic medicines for chronic pain and illness. Together, we will discuss the latest research and findings on the use of psychedelics in the treatment of conditions like TBIs, Lyme Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and chronic pain due to injury.
In case you cannot watch the event live, all ticket holders will have access to the recording once it has been posted.
PANELISTS
James Close is a UK based clinical academic specializing in the management of chronic pain in adults. In 2018, he joined Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research, where he has acted in both a research and therapeutic capacity on several studies. James is currently coordinating one of the first contemporary psychedelic trials in a chronic pain population as part of his doctoral thesis, which focuses on the brain mechanisms and phenomenology of Psilocybin assisted therapy in people with Fibromyalgia. James has over 14 years of experience working alongside people living with pain, and continues to practice as a physical therapist in the Pain Centre at Charing Cross Hospital in West London.
Carol Gilson, LCSW-S, is a multifaceted healer whose work is focused on the therapeutic and personal growth benefits that come from the use of psychedelic medicines. She has lived with chronic pain since the summer of 1996 when she was diagnosed with a condition called Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is this lived experience that led her to the medicinal use of psychedelics in her healing journey. She has deep gratitude and reverence for all psychedelic medicines, it is through their use that she is no longer reliant on pharmaceuticals to manage pain or control the condition for which she was diagnosed.
Carol has facilitated over 3,000 Ketamine Assisted Therapy sessions in a clinical setting and a leading expert in the use of ketamine in psychedelic-assisted therapy, a psychotherapist and trauma specialist who has been trained by MAPS in MDMA therapy for PTSD. She is the creator of a luxurious body care product called Love Balm, and the founder of the Divine Spark Foundation which is currently fundraising to build a home for healing the mind, body, and spirit that will be called the Soul Sanctuary, that is registered as a 508(c)(1)(a) Faith Based Organization. She is also a consultant that develops customized treatment protocols and training programs for practitioners who use ketamine in their practice. To learn more about Carol and her offerings, visit https://www.divinespark.foundation/.
Dan Lennon Dan Lennon is a brother, son, partner, friend & psychedelic community builder. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island. In 2014, Dan started experiencing severe symptoms including chronic pain, fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction which left him debilitated for many years. After seeing 20+ doctors and his symptoms persisting undiagnosed for over 3 years; Dan finally found an accurate diagnosis of late-stage Lyme Disease & coinfections. Unfortunately, after being diagnosed with Lyme, Dan continued to struggle to get well. In that time, Dan experienced first hand how costly and inaccessible most treatment modalities are. However, through grants and crowdfunding Dan was able to continue being treated.
After many years of working with various modalities including western, eastern & integrative approaches, Dan’s suffering called him to work with psychedelic plant medicine. It’s through his work with psychedelics he was able to make transformational changes including shifting his relationship to his pain and suffering. Dan has dedicated part of his life advocating for individuals living with chronic illnesses. He is most passionate about representation and accessibility to psychedelic assisted therapy for those suffering with chronic conditions. Dan co-leads a men’s group known as the Brotherhood of Light and is a certified Kambo practitioner based in Austin, Texas.
José Maldonado is a twenty-year U.S. Army Veteran paratrooper with several combat tours to Iraq. Severely wounded in 2003, he has experienced the struggles of living with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the chronic pain resulting from the physical injuries to his body. Not accepting the protocol treatment from the Veteran Affairs after retirement, he found himself on a journey seeking unconventional healing for his mental, emotional, and physical well being. Connecting with many other veterans on the same self-healing journey, he has found some relief with psychedelics.
Don’t worry if you are unable to attend the event live. The event will be recorded, and the replay will be sent to all who register.
MODERATORS
The panel will be co-moderated by Brad Adams, Ph.D., founder of the Los Angeles Medicinal Psychedelics Society (LAMPS), and Paul Lisy, documentary filmmaker and LAMPS partner.
REFERENCES
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735427/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876976/#:~:text=Chronic%20diseases%20are%20among%20the,and%20the%20number%20is%20growing.