New Age Seekers: MDMA Use as an Adjunct to Spiritual Pursuit

Among New Ager seekers, social worlds shape which qualities of the MDMA experience are most valued. Unlike recreational users who see little long-term benefit, New Agers typically believe carefully planned MDMA use holds lasting spiritual or therapeutic potential. Many New Agers avoid alcohol and other drugs but are impressed with MDMA, though motivations differ: some use it as a sacramental adjunct for specific spiritual paths, others for general spiritual growth. The stark contrast between New Agers and recreational users highlights the importance of social worlds and context in understanding drug-using behavior.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The use of MDMA as an adjunct to spiritual pursuit among New Ager seekers is examined. These study respondents indicated that social worlds greatly influenced which qualities of the MDMA experience were most pursued and valued. In contrast to recreationally oriented respondents, who saw minimal long-term benefits accruing from MDMA use, New Agers typically believed that carefully planned experiences possessed significant potential for lasting spiritual and/or therapeutic value. While many New Agers eschew the use of alcohol and other drugs, these respondents were generally impressed with MDMA. Nevertheless, they differed in their motivations for use and their perceptions of its influence in their lives: some employed MDMA as a sacramental adjunct for following specific spiritual paths; others viewed it as aiding their spiritual growth in more general ways. Because the approaches to and motivations for using MDMA differ so markedly for New Agers and recreationally oriented users, the importance of social worlds and context in studying drug-using behavior is underscored.