Parenting and Psychedelics Goes Mainstream

Mainstream media is awakening to the promise of psychedelics. As more people become aware of the compelling research on these substances, news outlets are increasingly interested in how they impact different communities. So I was pleased when NBC approached us to talk about parents who use psychedelics.

But as we experienced with our video series, finding people to speak on camera about their use of a Schedule I substance is not easy! Parents face many risks by “coming out” about psychedelic use: judgment from others, potential legal actions and even loss of custody (though there is no precedent for parents losing custody due to using psychedelics, there is with cannabis).

That’s why I was grateful that parents Danny Panzella and Vanessa Velez were brave enough to be the spokespeople for this segment. Putting a face to the topic and normalizing it is at the core of Plant Parenthood’s mission. When we can see representations of ourselves and our stories, it makes us feel less alone and less ashamed.  It may even inspire us to share our own stories more broadly.

When we look at the number of harms that come to people who use substances, psychedelics rank at the very bottom of the list. As you might guess, alcohol ranks at the top. To paraphrase what Vanessa said during her appearance on The Today Show, legality does not equate to morality. Of course psychedelics do carry risks as all substances do! But one of the greatest risks is social stigma that creates shame and anxiety. 

Plant Parenthood is not just interested in the absence of harm – we’re also interested in the presence of deep self work that allows us to be better parents. It’s time we look at the possibility that parents who use psychedelics are participating in a practice that has enormous potential for addressing trauma, anxiety, depression and addiction (among many other indications). And healthier people are healthier parents.