Title:Evolutionary Considerations on the Emerging Subculture of the E-psychonauts and the Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Comeback to the Shamanism?
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Author(s): Laura Orsolini*, Paul St John-Smith, Daniel McQueen, Duccio Papanti, John Corkery and Fabrizio Schifano
Affiliation:
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB,United Kingdom
Keywords:
Evolutionary models, novel psychoactive substances, NPS, entheogens, psychonauts, shamanism, evolution,
psychiatry.
Abstract: Background: Evolutionary research on drug abuse has hitherto been restricted to proximate
studies, considering aetiology, mechanism, and ontogeny. However, in order to explain the recent
emergency of a new behavioral pattern (e.g. ‘the e-psychonaut style’) of novel psychoactive
substances’ (NPS) intake, a complementary evolutionary model may be needed.
Objective: A range of evolutionary interpretations on the ‘psychonaut style’ and the recent emergency
of NPS were here considered.
Method: The PubMed database was searched in order to elicit evolutionary theory-based documents
commenting on NPS/NPS users/e-psychonauts.
Results: The traditional ‘shamanic style’ use of entheogens/plant-derived compounds may present
with a range of similarities with the ‘e-psychonauts’ use of mostly of hallucinogen/psychedelic NPS.
These users consider themselves as ‘new/technological’ shamans.
Conclusion: Indeed, a range of evolutionary mechanisms, such as: optimal foraging, costly signaling,
and reproduction at the expense of health may all cooperate to explain the recent spread and diffusion
of the NPS market, and this may represent a reason of concern.
