In this blog post, we share 11 insights gained from the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference held in Denver, Colorado. Dive into the world of psychedelic medicine, ketamine infusion therapy, and more!

I recently attended the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference held in Denver, Colorado in June 2023. There I saw presentations by researchers and influencers of the psychedelic medicine movement, as well as connected with colleagues & friends. In this blog post, we share eleven takeaways in three sections: 1) insights on psychedelic medicine & consciousness, 2) insights on the importance of relationships and connection, and 3) insights on providing psychedelic informed transformational care.

Top left: Dr. Ko with Dennis McKenna, author and ethnopharmacologist. Top right and lower right: art installations at Deep Space. Bottom right: Conference selfie.

Insights On Psychedelic Medicine & Consciousness

#1. Psychedelics Are NOT For Everyone

One of the major reminders from the MAPS Psychedelic Science conference is that psychedelics and psychedelic therapy are not for everyone. Promoting them as a panacea — a cure for everything — is a disservice to providing full disclosure. It overlooks the risks, benefits, and alternatives. To do justice to psychedelic and ketamine therapy, we must not promote them as the only answer but as one of many tools we can utilize when appropriate. Having the right set, setting, screening, and sustainability in practice is key for both practitioners and patients. The insight here is that for patients, we need them to fully understand what could happen, good or bad. Ketamine and psychedelic therapy can be challenging and intense, and therefore not for everyone.

#2. Psychedelic Medicines Are Unspecific Mental Amplifiers

One insight I've gained about ketamine therapy and psychedelics, in general, is that they act like unspecific mental amplifiers. Whatever is in the person in thinking or feeling will be amplified. This means that anything that can alter one’s thoughts and emotions such as the environment, mindset, intention, and the people providing the psychedelic or ketamine therapy are vital as they can amplify the experience. For instance, during my time in the emergency department, I used intravenous (IV) ketamine for sedation. Once, during a medical procedure, a patient grew extremely uncomfortable. Despite using lidocaine, the pain persisted. I asked the nurse for ketamine — one of my favorite drugs to administer in the ER. We were in a busy emergency room, with the intention of alleviating pain during a medical procedure, and the patient was in much pain and experiencing fear. We didn’t have a set and setting that would be aligned with a peaceful experience, which resulted in the patient having a challenging experience. This underscores why the right environment, mindset, and supportive people around you prior to psychedelic or ketamine therapy are essential.

#3. The Change In Blood Flow May Be Related to the Change In Consciousness

At the conference, I attended a lecture by Amanda Fielding. She is an English drug policy reformer, countess, and founder of the Beckley Foundation. Her talk revolved around consciousness, metaphorically comparing brain cells to a desert and blood flow to water. She theorized that by altering the blood flow to certain parts of the brain, we can change our consciousness. She is conducting functional MRI studies with researchers in the UK to explore how blood flow alteration can impact our consciousness. Ketamine studies reveal changes in the default mode network, reducing the activity of where the ego may reside. This could be responsible for the rapid improvements patients experience in their depression, PTSD, and anxiety symptoms.

#4. Let’s call it Psychedelic Resurgence vs. Renaissance

A fascinating conversation took place between Michael Pollan and Bob Jesse during the conference. They deliberated over the term 'Psychedelic Renaissance' and pondered whether it could be called something else. The term “Renaissance” often incites a look back, not forward. It led me to consider alternative terms like 'Psychedelic Resurgence' or 'Psychedelic Re-empowerment'. It's intriguing to note that it may not necessarily be a Renaissance because psychedelics have been around for many years. Despite the government's ban, psychedelics continued to be used, particularly by the indigenous communities, who never really stopped. Hence, we could consider this era a Resurgence or Regrowth, providing a fresh perspective on what's happening these days.

#5. What is Legal May NOT Be What Is Wise

There are several online ketamine therapy providers that deliver large doses of the drug to individuals' homes for unsupervised use—a practice that is technically legal but could lead to unfortunate outcomes. In a panel discussing ketamine therapy, Dr. Raquel Bennett shared a pertinent insight: just because something is legal, it doesn't necessarily mean it's wise. As medical professionals, we must keep in mind that prudence and wisdom should guide our decisions, not just legality. At Reset Ketamine, we prioritize patient safety and monitor vital signs continuously—heart rate, cardiac rhythm, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels. This responsible approach ensures we maintain the highest standard and integrity in administering IV ketamine therapy.

Left: Art installation at Deep Space. Top right: Dr. Ko with friend, colleague, and author Dr. Joe Tafur. Bottom right: slide from Dr Tafur’s talk at the conference.

Insights On The importance of Relationships & Connections

#6. Connections Are What's Crucial

One of the most enriching aspects of attending the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver was not confined to the lectures, presentations, and art displays, which were all remarkable in their own right. For me, the essence of the conference lay in the social connections. The last time I attended was in Oakland, California in 2017. Fast forward to 2023, this was an expansive gathering, boasting 12,000+ attendees, making it one of the largest conferences I've ever attended. It was refreshing to reconnect with old acquaintances and equally invigorating to form new connections. It's crucial to remember that we're in this together, in a world where 'us' is the only constant. Embracing kindness towards each other and towards ourselves underlines the significance of connections.

#7. You Are Connected To Your Ancestors

This insight was small reminder that you are here now. Take a deep breath in, and know that you are connected to all of the ancestors that have come before you. Your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and all the way back, thousands of generations. Also, realize that you are a future ancestor. A hundred, two hundred, or even a thousand years from now, you will remain woven into the magnificent tapestry of life, connected to generations yet to come.

#8. Relationships Are The Most Important

One of the most intriguing presentations was delivered by William Leonard Pickard, who spent 20 years in federal prison for manufacturing and distributing LSD. Sentenced to two life sentences, he was fortunately released in 2020. Emerging from two decades of incarceration, Pickard described his experience of reintegrating into society. In a world filled with cars, cell phones, and an unending flurry of activity, his greatest insight was the realization that the most important aspects of life are people and relationships. Material possessions such as cars, money, and fame hold little significance compared to the sacredness of human connections. It's these relationships, these connections, that truly matter.

Speaking of connection and more conference related insights, check out the blog of our friend Dr. Ray Rivas of Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy, Key Takeaways from the Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference in Denver.

Top left: Rick Dobin founder of MAPS and staff who produce the conference. Top right: Dr. Raquel Bennet presenting on ketamine. Bottom left: Dr. Ko with Amanda Fielding, English drug policy reformer and founder of the Beckley Foundation. Bottom right: Dr. Ko with fellow ketamine specialist Dr. James Leathem of Advanced Wellness and Pain.

Insights On Providing Psychedelic Informed Transformational Care

#9. The Surgeon Is The Technique

While learning from numerous eminent speakers, I was reminded of a profound statement made by a friend of mine Dr. Dan Patton —an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgeries. He shared with me the challenge in performing randomized double-blinded controlled trials with surgical procedures was that no two surgeons are alike. Each surgeon brings their own experience, touch, and art. He posited that "the surgeon is the technique." This statement encapsulates the fact that even when two surgeons perform the exact same procedure, there will be slight differences due to individual modifications and techniques. This concept is relevant to ketamine therapy and psychedelic therapy, as every clinician and practitioner will have their unique approach, which will invariably impact the set and setting of the patient's experience. Whoever is providing the treatment and medicine is as important if not more important than the therapy itself.

#10. It Doesn't Matter What You Do, It Matters Who You Are

During the conference, I met an artist from Italy. She shared a powerful insight, one that resonated with me. She said, "It doesn't matter what you do, it matters who you are." This statement emphasizes the fact that one's actions are not as influential as their inherent qualities, their presence, and how they show up in the world. Why this is so powerful to me is because there is much discussion on who should and should not provide psychedelic therapy and even ketamine therapy. This insight suggested that it's not merely our actions but our very essence that defines us. That the intention and being of who provides the treatment can highly influence how a person receives and responds to the therapy. This profound concept, which underlines the importance of presence and being over actions, was truly enlightening.

#11. It Takes More Than Ketamine For Patients To Get Better

One of the powerful insights that I had is that the success of IV ketamine therapy is not ONLY the drug itself. Rather, it's the relationship between the patient and physician, the environment in which the treatment is given, and the intention of both the patient and practitioner that contribute significantly to the therapy's efficacy. Ketamine serves as a catalyst, fostering these crucial elements that ultimately lead to healing. True healing arises through relationships, dialogue, and connection with others.

Conclusion

There was a remarkable range of insights from the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference that was gained, all woven into the fabric of psychedelic therapy, relationships, and transformational care. The idea that ketamine and psychedelics are not for everyone was explored. The importance of remembering our interconnectedness and relationships was shared. Finally, to round out the insights given, the significance of the practitioner in providing care is just as key as the medicine itself was stressed. I look forward to the further insights and wisdom we gain as we continue to grow and explore this field of psychedelic medicine.