O uso da ayahuasca no tratamento da dependência de substâncias: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify and understand the process inherent to treatment for psychoactive substance dependence in a spiritual first aid post, located in Sorocaba- São Paulo. It is therefore a qualitative and exploratory study, with the aim of contributing to the debate on the use of ayahuasca in the treatment of substance dependence, and on the experience of individuals who opt for this treatment modality, through the monitoring of all the stages that composes the said process: the arrival of the person in the institution, the experience itself (induced by ritual ingestion of ayahuasca), and the time immediately following the experience lived by these individuals. Ayahuasca is a dark brown color of tea produced from the decoction of two native plants to the Amazon rainforest: Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis. This substance is originally used in rituals of indigenous tribes of the Amazon, and later incorporated by syncretic religions that appeared in Brazil. The tea promotes altered states of consciousness that changes the experience of self and the world. Its consumption has been considered repeatedly as a potential tool for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse - a fact that has attracted the attention of experts. Given the complexity that involves the individual and the substance use, studies on the use of ayahuasca as a therapeutic tool can be very useful (social and academic).