Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life

Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life offers a cutting-edge exploration of the role of psychedelics in the end-of-life experience.

This book outlines 10 steps for dying gracefully with the help of psychedelics, including how to navigate the complex legal landscape and find the right guide and therapy. It looks at clinical studies of psychedelics from UCLA, Johns Hopkins, and NYU School of Medicine that show a dramatic lessening of end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill patients. Additionally, it shares wisdom from experts on psychedelic research and palliative care, such as Roland Griffiths, Katherine MacLean, Ira Byock, and Anthony Bossis.

Examining the evolving landscape surrounding end-of-life psychedelic care, Dr. Richard Louis Miller, a clinical psychologist for more than half a century, explores how LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca can be vital tools in allowing individuals in all stages of life to confront fears of dying and, in so doing, lead richer lives.

Miller shares insights from experts on the frontiers of psychedelic research and palliative care, examining studies from prominent institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU School of Medicine that demonstrate a dramatic decrease in anxiety among terminally ill patients using psychedelics. He discusses how different substances can help the dying overcome their end-of-life distress and provides testimony from researchers and patients participating in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which helps convey the experience of ego death central to the psychedelic experience.

In the book, Miller delineates 10 steps for dying gracefully, free of fear, with the assistance of psychedelics. He offers guidance on navigating the complex legal landscape, along with advice on finding the right guide, dose, and therapy. The book also includes reflections from key figures in the psychedelic community as well as Miller's own psychedelically informed mystical and near-death experiences.

By revealing psychedelics as a portal of transformation, Miller demonstrates how these substances are invaluable in helping individuals face the end of life with bravery and serenity.