@@Ayahuasca & Drug Addiction@@

Takiwasi: Ayahuasca and Shamanism in Addiction Therapy
Michel Mabit



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Attempting to cure drug addiction by the ritual use of ayahuasca, a
plant beverage with psychotropic effects, might appear to be crazy or
at least very daring. When Takiwasi (Center for the Rehabilitation of
Drug Addicts and for Research of Traditional Medicines) was born in
September 1992 in Tarapoto, Peru, the idea of the founders was to
investigate and use in a systematic way the Amazonian healers'
shamanistic knowledge to cure drug addicts. This applied research has
now been underway for three and a half years seeking an efficient, low
cost and culturally adapted alternative therapy. The initial results
are encouraging.

Drug addiction has become a serious and important public health problem
here since Peru became one of the biggest world producers of coca basic
paste. The traffickers are falling into their own trap, consuming the
product destined for exportation. Also, in times of overproduction,
they have begun to sell the drug inside Peru. This problem is not
well-known in the rich countries' No solution has been available to the
coca basic paste addicts, who are becoming more numerous day by day
especially in the Alto-Huallaga, a region of high production.

Fortunately, wherever there is a problem there exists a solution, at
least in the experience of the two main people responsible for the
creation of Takiwasi: Dr. Jacques Mabit, a French doctor in Peru
conducting research into traditional "curanderos"(1) and José Campos,
a young Peruvian descendent of an Andean family of curanderos. During
six years travelling together through the Upper-Huallaga river valley
they met more than 70 curanderos. These "maestros"(2) told them that
the only way to understand their work was through ingesting the plants
themselves. Thus the scientific work became a learning journey,
bringing them into ever closer contact with traditional knowledge of
medicinal plants and especially the greatly-respected ayahuasca, in
continuous use for thousands of years throughout the Amazon basin. They
observed its use by the "ayahuasqueros" (3) in the treatment and cure
of all kinds of physical and psychological illnesses and came to
understand that seeking "altered states of consciousness" through the
use of psychoactive substances is not synonymous with drug addiction.
In spite of the powerful effects produced by ayahuasca, they never once
met an "ayahuasca addict". On the contrary, as a curandero progresses
in his practice, he needs to drink less and less of the brew. They were
also surprised to find that these curanderos treat drug addicts with
ayahuasca.

Takiwasi was created as an experimental center to treat drug addicts
using traditional Amazonian medicines. Takiwasi means "the singing
house" in the Quechua language, so-called because the therapeutic song
or "ikaro" is the favorite healing weapon used by the Amazonian shamans
and also in Takiwasi. The idea was to apply the healers' art in a more
systematic way.

By modifying his state of consciousness with drugs, the drug addict
looks for a meaning in his life and often for an unconscious access to
"God". This method has always been used through the ages by every
culture. The majority of today's drugs are made with plants (wine,
alcohol, heroin, cocaine, marijuana) which are considered as "sacred"
in many cultures and for that reason are taken ritually. All the
Amazonian healers or shamans explain that psychoactive plants are not
only a mixture of chemical substances but are living entities with a
"spirit" which can help and cure if they are respected but kill if they
are abused. Rediscovering the ritual is essential. The aim of Takiwasi
is to help the patient to get over his addiction teaching him that he
can modify his state of consciousness without damaging himself and gain
a more spiritual outlook on his life, giving him strength and faith. He
will experience and understand this vision of life himself from inside
during the Ayahuasca sessions and the diet.

The team

Jacques Mabit and José Campos were joined by other adventurers all
passionate about shamanism: Rosa Giove, Peruvian doctor; Dionisio
Santos, administrator and Rony Rengifo, Peruvian therapist. Today, the
team also includes two Peruvian psychologists Jaime Torres and Javier
Zavala and Michel Mabit, French journalist in charge of communication.
All participate in the therapy. They have followed exactly the same
treatment as the patients in order to practice it. They undergo this
"initiation" together with the patients. During the ayahuasca sessions,
both therapists and patients consume the beverage. Thus the therapist
forms a very close bond with his patients. In addition, there is a
working network of healers who are native to the region with whom it is
always possible to consult.

Costs and funding

The French government has supported the Takiwasi project since 1990,
before its official creation and has so far provided US$ 320,000 mainly
through the General Delegation For the Fight against Drugs and Drug
Addiction, a subsidiary of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
also through the French Technical Cooperation. The European Community
supported the project for two years (1993-1995) with the sum of US$
340,000. From December 1995 to December 1997 the post of Director of
Communications is being financed by the United Nations Volunteers
program. We are also expecting a volunteer from the organization
CUSO-Canada in July 1996. We have received private donations from
various people, mainly through the Association of Support for Takiwasi
created in France in 1993. Total from that fund up until now: US$
10,000.

The principal reason that the French government and the European
community support Takiwasi is their support of the search for an
alternative therapy in the treatment of drug addiction. The project was
presented as a therapeutic alternative utilizing medicinal plants and
local recourses in general without focusing solely on ayahuasca or
other psychotropic plants. However, both financiers are informed of the
use of these plants and the term psychotropic plants does figure in the
contract with European Community.

Out of the above-mentioned donations, US$ 200,000 were used to buy the
land and install all the infrastructure of the center (buildings,
materials, vehicles). The rest was used for the running costs of the
center (salaries, food, maintenance). Takiwasi currently runs on US$
100,000 per year with salaries ranging from 250 to 1,000 dollars per
month for the therapeutic team. Ideally, the sum required to cover the
running costs would be US$ 150,000 to provide treatment (with all the
related costs), appropriate salaries and training for the team. In
order to realize improved and effective investigation and information,
a further US$ 100,000 per year is required.

Takiwasi is registered with the Ministry of the Presidency of Peru as a
recipient of International Cooperation. It is a Peruvian NGO - Non
Governmental Organization - and its legal title is "non profit
organization." Private donations may be received. Donations can be made
by check in dollars or by giros to our dollars savings account at the
Banco de Credito, Tarapoto, Peru account no. 550/9285296-20. An
official receipt is sent to donors to enable them to offset their
donation against tax. The estimated real cost of each patient's
treatment is US$ 800 per month. Being experimental, the center has a
maximum capacity of 15 or 20 patients at one time. In reality, we have
an average of 10 patients. The price is adapted to the economic means
of the patients and their families. Patients without economic resources
are also accepted.

Activities carried out

It should be noted that Takiwasi is not only a center for the treatment
of drug addicts. Apart from therapy with drug addicts, Takiwasi also
receives outpatients with psychological problems and outside
researchers for short periods of study. The Center's work also involves
training, education and investigation. The investigative work has not
been properly developed so far. The studies we want to develop in the
coming years are neurophysiology, psychoanthropology, botany and
phytochemistry. This work could be carried out by external
investigators or laboratories in collaboration with Takiwasi both in
terms of cost (with Takiwasi providing the infrastructure and
logistical base for data collection) and of the results and even
possible benefits derived. A research program is underway into
traditional medicine (medicinal plant resources, psychocultural and
energetic aspects of shamanism and traditional healing). An important
part of the work is dedicated to diffusion of information through
courses, conferences, TV and radio programs and organization of a Latin
American network of Centers that fight drug addiction without coercion
and using local resources. The Center publishes the biannual magazine
Takiwasi in Spanish to reflect upon exchanges, views on the usage
(therapy) and abuse (drug addiction) of psychotropic substances and
upon modified states of consciousness in general. Four issues have been
published to date. An English issue is being prepared.

Three times each year, the center also organizes three-week Seminars
For Personal Evolution which are open to people who want to experience
shamanistic techniques. Participants in the seminar do not have to
speak Spanish although it does certainly help them to adapt and
communicate with the other participants. We can accomodate seminar
participants in English, French and Portuguese. So far we have received
French, Brazilians and an Australian, none of whom spoke Spanish and
all of whom enjoyed the experience. The next seminar will take place
September 3-24, 1996. For further information, please contact:


Takiwasi
466
prolongacion Alerta
Tarapoto, Peru
Tel/Fax: 00.51.94.52.54.79
Footnotes

"curandero" is someone who cures using medicinal plants and many other
healing techniques. In this context, it refers to a specialist in
medicinal plants and especially ayahuasca.
"maestro" or Master is a title of respect usually used to address the
older or wiser curanderos.
"ayahuasquero" is a curandero for whom ayahuasca constitutes the basis
of his treatment.

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