Rick Doblin

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Rick Doblin
Doblin, 2014
Born (1953-11-30) November 30, 1953 (age 70)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Alma materNew College of Florida (B.S., 1987)
Harvard University (Ph.D., 2001)
Occupation(s)Founder and Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Known forPsychedelic therapy, MAPS
Scientific career
FieldsPsychology, Public policy, Political science
ThesisRegulation of the medical use of psychedelics and marijuana (2001)
Doctoral advisorFrederic M. Scherer

Richard Elliot Doblin (born November 30, 1953) is an American drug activist and executive who is the founder and former[1] executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Life and career[edit]

Rick Doblin grew up in Skokie, Illinois as the oldest of four kids in a Jewish family.[2] He first enrolled in Florida's New College in 1971 but dropped out after one semester, later re-enrolling and completing a bachelor's in psychology. Doblin later went on to get his doctorate in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.[3]

Doblin established MAPS in 1986 to research MDMA and other psychedelics through legal clinical trials. MAPS pursued a lengthy FDA approval process, hoping mainstream acceptance of MDMA therapy could positively impact access to other treatments.[4] Over decades, MAPS collaborated with scientists, raised funds through philanthropic means, and worked to change public perceptions of psychedelics.

After 37 years, Doblin stepped down as Executive Director of MAPS in February 2023, replaced by Kris Lotlikar.[1]

Controversy[edit]

An independent advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration rejected the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder on June 4, 2024. Just before they voted on Tuesday, the advisory panel heard from more than 30 speakers. Several of those focused on Doblin. Brian Pace, a lecturer at Ohio State University, described the company applying for approval as a “therapy cult” and criticized Mr. Doblin’s public comments highlighting his zeal for psychedelics, including a belief that legalizing and regulating them would bring about world peace. [5] As director of MAPS, Doblin has given comment on the publicized serious allegations of sexual assault by MAPS-employed therapists engaging in a clinical trial trialing psychedelic MDMA as therapy for survivors of sexual assault. Four years after Meaghan Buisson submitted a formal complaint to MAPS regarding the series of incidents, Doblin defended the organisation failing to review all videos of the sessions, stating "This unethical sexual misconduct happened after the therapy was over … So that made us think that we didn't need to review the video."[6]

See also[edit]

  • Psychedelia – Film about the history of psychedelic drugs

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hausfeld, Russell (2023-04-22). "Rick Doblin Is No Longer MAPS' Executive Director. We Didn't Notice — Did You?". Psymposia. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  2. ^ Rowland, Katherine (2024-02-29). "Thanks to this man, MDMA could soon be legal for therapy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  3. ^ Silman, Anna. "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  4. ^ Silman, Anna. "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  5. ^ Jacobs, Andrew (2024-06-04). "F.D.A. Panel Rejects MDMA-Aided Therapy for PTSD". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  6. ^ "Meaghan thought psychedelic therapy could help her PTSD. Instead it was the start of a nightmare". ABC News. ABC News (Australia). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
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