On March 4, 2025, the University of Latvia hosted the international hybrid conference “New Approaches in Regulating Psycho-Emotional States: Perspectives from Human and Life Sciences”. This event brought together leading researchers, medical professionals, psychologists, pharmacologists, and philosophers from Latvia and abroad to analyze the therapeutic potential, neurobiological mechanisms, and societal attitudes toward psychedelics and other consciousness-expanding methods in mental health care.
While this was the first conference of its kind at the University of Latvia, it continued a discussion series on modern integrative approaches in medicine that began in 2023. The first conference in 2023 was organized by the association “Veselīga Latvija” (Healthy Latvia), while the 2025 conference was co-organized by the University of Latvia – Faculty of Humanities & Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences – together with the association “Veselīga Latvija”.
The program featured academic lectures and Q&A sessions with world-renowned experts, including David Nutt, Ethan Nadelmann, and Rick Strassman. Discussions on the neurobiological mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychedelics were led by Gitte Moos Knudsen and Wim van den Brink, while Viljar Veede examined the early stages of psychedelic therapy in Estonia. The conference also featured leading Latvian researchers, with Baiba Jansone presenting on substances affecting the central nervous system and Kaspars Eihmanis exploring psychedelics from a philosophical perspective. Vents Sīlis analyzed the role of psychedelic experiences in individuation.
The conference offered an interdisciplinary perspective on psychedelics, emphasizing the need for a scientifically informed regulatory framework.
The conference sections were moderated by Professor Valdis Pīrāgs and Professor Mārcis Auziņš.
Due to great public interest in the conference, we have made all the speakers' presentations publicly available.
David Nutt is currently the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences.
Ethan Nadelmann is host of the weekly podcast, PSYCHOACTIVE, as well as founder and former executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation’s leading drug policy reform organization.
Wim van den Brink is Emeritus Professor of Addiction Psychiatry at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam and used to be the Director of the Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research (AIAR).
Dr. Rick Strassman is a Clinical Associate professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
Gitte Moos Knudsen, Professor in neurobiology, neurologist, Chair Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Director of BrainDrugs Alliance.
Dr. Vents Sīlis is an Associate Professor at Riga Stradiņš University (RSU), a philosopher, and a sociologist specializing in health and medical sociology, research ethics, bioethics, and philosophical anthropology.
Kaspars Eihmanis is a philosopher, Buddhologist and sinologist. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from National Taiwan Genji Chengchi University.
Baiba Jansone, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Latvia (UL). From 2025, Head of the Department of Neuromedicine and Neurosciences at the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Viljar Veede is an Estonian psychiatrist with a long-term interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics for mental disorders.
On May 17 the international online conference "Psychedelics: the game-changer in mental health and medical science" took place in Riga. The aim of the conference was to stimulate discussion in Latvia and the Baltics about the integrative methods in medicine – especially in the fields of mental health, oncology, palliative care and addiction treatment – applying mind-altering methods and psychedelics.
A total of 14 well-known international and local experts spoke at the conference. Keynote speakers at the conference included Paul Stamets, Dennis McKenna, David J Nutt, Ethan Nadelmann, Mendel Kaelen, Pamela Kryskow and Indriķis Muižnieks.
The conference was organised by the association “Veselīga Latvija” (Healthy Latvia) in cooperation with the culture portal Arterritory.com/Spiriterritory.com.
Due to great public interest in the conference, we have made all the speakers' presentations publicly available.
Paul Stamets is a mycologist, the world's preeminent mushroom and fungi expert, medical researcher, author of six books, and an industry leader in research related to the use of fungi in improving both the planet's ecology and human health. Paul Stamets has been a dedicated mycologist for over 40 years, and his philosophy is that “MycoDiversity is BioSecurity.”
David J Nutt is a professor of Neuropsycho¬pharmacology, director of the Neuropsycho-pharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at the Imperial College London. His research area is psychopharmacology – the study of the effects of drugs on the brain, from the perspectives of both how drug treatments in psychiatry and neurology work, and why people use and become addicted to some drugs such as alcohol. He is a strong advocate of evidence-based drug policy, working tirelessly to bridge the gap between legislators and researchers.
Dennis McKenna is an ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, thinker, lecturer, author and the founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy. For more than forty years, his professional research and activities have focused on hallucinogenic plants as well as the quest for synergy between Western science and ancient indigenous knowledge.
Ethan Nadelmann is host of the weekly podcast, PSYCHOACTIVE, as well as founder and former executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation’s leading drug policy reform organization. Described by Rolling Stone as "the point man" for drug policy reform efforts and “the real drug czar,” Ethan is widely regarded as the outstanding proponent of drug policy reform both in the United States and abroad.
Mendel Kaelen is neuroscientist and a thought leader on the therapeutic use of music. He is the founder and CEO of Wavepaths, a tool that facilitates live, unique, personalised music experiences both for and as psychedelic therapy. The ultimate aim of Wavepath is to develop, through research, a new approach to wellbeing.
Dr. Pamela Kryskow is the Board Member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada, the medical lead in Roots To Thrive Non Profit and the Medical Chair of the Vancouver Island University Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Post Graduate Certificate Program. She is currently working with colleagues on research related to Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, Microdosing, MDMA, Psilocybin, Chronic Pain and Psychedelic therapy.
Indriķis Muižnieks is Professor of Microbiology, Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, and Rector of the University of Latvia. He also was one of the founders of the Association of Latvian shitake mushroom growers. So, he will speak about Latvians, Latvian science and mushrooms.
As lawyer and entrepreneur, Vita Liberte is a founder of BDO Latvia and a popular speaker at local and international conferences. An alumna of the prestigious New York University, she has been permanently on Forbes' list of the most successful business women in Latvia. In 2022 she had the honor of becoming Honorary Consul of Uruguay in Latvia.
Ieva Bite is clinical and health psychologist, specialist in cognitive behavioural therapy, and associate professor at the University of Latvia. She has actively contributed to the development of psychological support and psychotherapy in Latvia, and she speaks a lot about the role of wise mind in the healthy relationships with ourselves and society in general.
Nils S. Konstantinovs is the founder and clinical lead at the Psychotherapy Center for Adolescents & Youth, practising child and adolescent psychotherapist. Currently bringing together professionals to form the Latvian Society of Adolescent Health and developing the first residential facility in the country for the treatment of adolescent offenders with mental health disorders.
Ilze Maksima is a doctor-narcologist and a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) specialist at Vivendi Health Centre. She is Member of the Board of Latvian Association of Narcologists.
Rafaels Ciekurs is the Head of the NMPD (Emergency Ambulance Service) Brigade Support Centre "Krasts”. He has Master's degrees in Healthcare and Law.
"I always believe that you have to solve the root causes of problems – the consequences will be much smaller in the future!”
Luīze Anna Bankoviča is an experience designer with a master's degree in Sustainability in Creative Industries from AMD Berlin. Her research focused on the link between mind-altering practices and the development of regenerative behaviour and value shift. Or, in other words, the role of set and setting, purpose and integration in mind-altering practices.
Almost graduate of gymnasium. On the threshold of adult life
Participation in the conference and access to recordings of it are free of charge for all interested parties. Nonetheless, the conference organisers will be grateful for support and contributions to continue raise awareness on this topic.
The association "Veselīga Latvija" is a non-profit organisation.
Requisites:
Biedrība VESELĪGA LATVIJA,
Registration number: 40008307724,
Address: Lāčplēša 75A-16, Rīga LV-1011,
Account number: LV71HABA0551051817788.