Ayahuasca in adolescence: Qualitative results

This retrospective survey (n=54) investigated the impact of religious Ayahuasca use on adolescents. The qualitative data shows that the teens using Ayahuasca religiously appeared not to differ from their non-ayahuasca-using peers. They were reported to be healthy, thoughtful, considerate, and bonded to their families and religious peers.

Abstract

“Qualitative research was conducted in Brazil among 28 ayahuasca-consuming adolescents members of the Uniāo do Vegetal Church, and 28 adolescents who never used ayahuasca. They were compared on a number of qualitative variables, including vignettes measuring moral and ethical concerns. Psychocultural studies utilizing co-occurences of variables in the realm of qualitative studies are useful in understanding and complementing quantitative studies also conducted among this population. Qualitative data show that the teens in the Uniāo do Vegetal religion appear to be healthy, thoughtful, considerate and bonded to their families and religious peers. This study examines the modem use of a powerful hallucinogenic compound within a legal religious context, and the youth who participated in these ayahuasca religious ceremonies (usually with parents and other family members) appeared not to differ from their nonayahuasca-using peers. This study helps to elucidate the full range of effects of plant hallucinogenic use within a socially-sanctioned, elder-facilitated and structured religious context.”

Authors: Marlene Dobkin de Rios, Charles S. Grob, Enrique Lopez, Dartiu Xavier da Silviera, Luisa K. Alonso & Evelyn Doering-Silveira

Notes

This paper pairs well with another study that year by Da Silveria and colleagues (2011) that investigated the use of ayahuasca in adolescents. Doering-Silveira and colleagues (2011) also compared the neuropsychological differences (none found) of (non-)users of ayahuasca.

Summary

Data were collected among 56 adolescent volunteers, ages 15 to 19, from three cities in Brazil. The study used qualitative data in addition to neuropsychological testing to understand the social context in which the ayahuasca use occurs among the UDV teens compared to controls.

De Rios and Alonza developed categories for classifying data and presented it in a correlative manner of two or more variables interacting together. This gives rise to a holistic perspective and the attempt to explain how sociocultural systems must be understood through the interconnections among these variables.

Social Characteristics of UDV and Control Group Teens

There was no significant difference between UDV and controls in regards to teens’ chores, but UDV teens were more responsible than the control group when it came to having at least one chore to perform.

UDV teens are no different from controls with regard to social cohesion. All UDV teens were raised by either both parents or by only their mother, and none were raised by their father.

The quality of home life was examined, and it was found that UDV teens seem to have a better quality of home life compared to control teens. The teens were also asked about their friendships, and it was found that UDV teens have closer friendships with their fathers.

The data suggests that UDV teens overwhelmingly draw their friends from church members and rely less on developing friend­ ships with schoolmates compared to control teens.

Future expectations and career options were queried, and it was found that UDV teens have similar future expectations as controls. However, the data suggests that UDV teens are more likely to stay in close proximity to their home environment.

The teens were queried about moral and ethical values, religion practices, and stigmatization by their peers. The control group was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, while the UDV group was also made up of six Spiritist temple members.

Lifetime drug experience was examined and there did not appear to be a significant difference between UDV and controls. Thirteen from each group reported having prior sexual experience and there was no difference between UDV and controls with regard to prior sexual history.

Responses to Vignettes

The six vignettes in Table 2 were designed to measure the moral and ethical considerations of both the UDV and control teens.

UDV teens appear to be no different from controls in avoiding confrontation, finding clandestine premarital sex distasteful and leaving the scene just like controls, and being thrifty, responsible and thinking about the welfare of others.

Limitations and Significance of the Study

This small pilot study of middle and upper middle class students in Brazil found that those who used ayahuasca in religious ceremonies did not differ significantly from their non-ayahuasca-using peers.

Conclusion

The UDV teens appear to be healthier, more responsible, respectful, and less confrontational than the controls, and have a closer relationship with their fathers. They do not differ significantly with regard to virginity or drug use.