Psychedelics and Public health: Beyond the Medical Treatment Paradigm

Name: Psychedelics and Public health: Beyond the Medical Treatment Paradigm
Start: 2025-02-20T18:30:00-08:00
End: 2025-02-20T20:00:00-08:00
Location: The Student Union Building

Schedule

Thu Feb 20 2025 at 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-08:00

Location

The Student Union Building | Victoria, BC

Psychedelics & Public Health: Beyond the Medical Treatment Paradigm
This presentation with Dr. Kenneth Tupper explores psychedelics as potential catalysts for public health benefits. It examines the evolution of population and public health disciplines, focusing particularly on how historical attitudes have shaped perceptions of psychoactive substances and their cultural uses. The presentation considers how beyond the medical uses of psychedelics, these plants and substances can also be tools for learning, cognitive or creative enhancement, and “plant teachers” in Indigenous traditions. It also explores the potential role of psychedelics in addressing contemporary public health risks and mitigating other modern human predicaments, such as the advent of AI and planetary health challenges.
Kenneth Tupper, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Child & Youth Care at the University of Victoria. Kenneth’s doctoral research developed the concept of “entheogenic education,” a theoretical frame for understanding how psychedelic plants and substances can function as cognitive tools for learning. He has published on drug policy, drug education and public health in numerous peer reviewed academic journals, presented at international health and drug policy conferences, and has twice been appointed to Canadian delegations to high-level United Nations international drug policy meetings.
February 20th 6:30-8:00 PM at Vertigo in the UVic Student Union Building. This presentation will include a Q/A session with Kenneth Tupper and Daniel Kopaee.
This is a free event with limited seating! Book your spot on eventbrite.
Learn more about VAPS at victoriapsychedelic.com or on facebook/instagram
Email us with any questions at [email protected]