Join the first conference in Latvia and the Baltics to cover: the latest research in the field of therapeutic potential of psychedelics; the experience of various organisations and countries regarding harm reduction; and the urgent need for a new approach to mental health care.
The aim of the conference is to stimulate discussion about the integrative methods in medicine, especially in the fields of mental health, oncology, palliative care and addiction treatment, applaying mind altering methods and psychedelics. The conference will also launch a discussion on the approaches that various countries have used to implement harm reduction as well as promote public education on the subject.
The need for such a discussion has been highlighted by the uncontrolled emergence in Latvia of new and particularly dangerous synthetic drugs and the increasing availability of narcotic drugs among adolescents – despite their inclusion on the list of banned substances. According to the Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Centre, the number of addicted patients in Latvia is increasing and waiting lists for treatment programmes are growing. At the same time, there is a drastic lack of comprehensive and professional discussion on psychedelics that would take an equally thorough look at both aspects – their potential therapeutic use based on modern scientific research, and their undeniable side effects.
Their banned status and the moral and criminal penalties that can be incurred from their use notwithstanding, the use of psychedelics and psychotropic substances is increasing. Moreover, the quality of these substances is questionable and often even life-threatening due to the lack of a standardised quality control system like the one in place for the pharmaceutical industry. This has created an absurd situation in which outright prohibition is only increasing the harm being done to the very society (and their mental/physical health state) that the criminalisation of the substances is supposedly trying to protect.
World-leading research institutions, such as the Johns Hopkins Center in the USA and Imperial College London, have published studies on the use of psychedelics (e.g. MDMA, psilocybin and ketamine) as a safe and effective treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nicotine addiction, alcohol dependence, and end-of-life anxiety. These institutions and their research have also contributed greatly to the decriminalisation of a number of psychedelic substances in many countries around the world.
David J Nutt Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London
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Dennis McKenna ethno-pharmacologist, research pharmacologist, and founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy
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Ethan Nadelmann founder of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York and a pioneer of drug policy reform in the US and worldwide
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Paul Stamets (USA), mycologist, 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
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Dr. Pamela Kryskow physician and clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia, currently involved in research on the use of psilocybin, ketamine and MDMA in psychotherapy and the use of psychedelics in mental illness and chronic pain
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Mendel Kaelenneuroscientist and the founder and CEO of Wavepaths.
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Ieva Bite Dr.psych., psychologist, Associate Professor, University of Latvia
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Nils Konstantinovs Head of the adolescent and youth Psychotherapy center, Latvia
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Indriķis Muižnieks Dr. habil. biol., Rector of the University of Latvia, Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences
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Vita Liberte Honorary Consul of Uruguay in Latvia
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Luīze Bankoviča Experience designer
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Ilze Maksima
Doctor-narcologist, CBT specialist at Vivendi Health Centre
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Rafaels Ciekurs
Head of the NMPD (Emergency Ambulance Service) Brigade Support Centre "Krasts”
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Katrīna Ērgle
Almost graduate of gymnasium. On the threshold of adult life
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17:00 (GMT+2)
Opening
17:02 – 17:09 (GMT + 2)
Increasing trends of calls to psychotropic and narcotic substance users in an emergency
Rafaels Ciekurs
17:09 – 17:15 (GMT + 2)
Mental health care and its issues of concern in Latvia
Ieva Bite
17:15 – 17:25 (GMT + 2)
Teenagers and substance abuse: when traditional approaches are no longer effective (if ever they were)...
Nils Konstantinovs
17:25 – 17:35 (GMT + 2)
The Latvian, Latvian science, and mushrooms
Indriķis Muižnieks
17:35 – 17:40 (GMT + 2)
Addiction problems in young people: a narcologist's point of view
Ilze Maksima
17:40 – 17:50 (GMT + 2)
Regenerative experience design
Luīze Anna Bankoviča
17:50 – 17:55 (GMT + 2)
The mass confusion and mental health crisis of teenagers and why it is vital to educate about the subject of consciousness and self awareness
Katrīna Ērgle
17:55 – 18:35 (GMT + 2)
The neuroscience of psychedelic therapy and the therapeutic role of music
Mendel Kaelen
18:35 – 19:15 (GMT + 2)
Harm reduction and Drug Policy reform
Ethan Nadelmann
19:15 – 20:00 (GMT + 2)
How psychedelic research is revolutionising psychiatry
David J Nutt
20:00 – 20:10 (GMT + 2)
Experience: Uruguay as Drug Policy Pioneer
Vita Liberte
20:10 – 20:50 (GMT + 2)
Psilocybin mushroom medicines and why psilocybin mushrooms are appropriate medicines for our time
Paul Stamets
20:50 – 21:30 (GMT + 2)
Medical perspective on psychedelic interventions for healing
Dr. Pamela Kryskow
21:30 – 22:00 (GMT + 2)
Plant and Human Symbiosis
Conversation with Dennis McKenna. Moderated by Una Meistere
22:00 (GMT + 2)
Closing address
*Program subject to change
The main intended audience for the conference is a constructive mix of medical professionals, psychotherapists, educators, law enforcement representatives and others who are interested in new ways for therapy and harm reduction.
The conference will be held in English via Zoom and will be free of charge for all interested parties.
The conference is being organised by NGO Veselīga Latvija (A Healthy Latvia) and the culture and humanities portal Spiriterritory.com.
The conference is 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.
© Veselīga Latvija 2023 · conference@veseligalatvija.lv