Israeli Researchers Study the Intersection of Trauma and Psychedelics After Hamas Attack at Desert Rave
In a shocking turn of events, thousands of revelers gathered at the Tribe of Nova music festival in southern Israel found themselves under attack by Hamas-led terrorists on Oct. 7. The deadly assault claimed the lives of 1,200 people, including 360 at the rave alone, marking the deadliest day in Israeli history.
What sets this tragic event apart is that many festival attendees were under the influence of mind-altering substances like LSD, MDMA, and ketamine as they witnessed the carnage or fled for their lives. Some survivors have reported that the drugs they were on during the attack helped them escape the chaos and process the trauma in unique ways.
For a group of Israeli researchers at the University of Haifa, this attack has presented a rare opportunity to study the intersection of trauma and psychedelics. The survivors of the Nova festival provide a unique case study for scientists to understand how these substances might impact individuals experiencing a traumatic event.
The researchers surveyed over 650 Nova survivors, with roughly 23 percent reporting the use of hallucinogens like LSD and 27 percent using MDMA. The preliminary results of the study suggest that the experiences of individuals under the influence of these drugs varied widely, from hallucinations to extreme clarity, panic to resolve, and paralysis to action.
While some survivors credit the drugs with giving them the strength and clarity to escape, others found that being under the influence hindered their ability to flee to safety. The researchers are now studying how drug use affected the survivors’ experience of trauma and how they are coping and recovering in the aftermath.
One survivor, Yarin Reichenthal, described feeling a sense of invincibility and enlightenment while on LSD during the attack. Another, Sebastian Podzamczer, attributed his survival to the rush of energy and clarity he experienced on MDMA, which helped him carry his paralyzed girlfriend to safety.
The researchers plan to follow the survivors for years, tracking their neural activity with fMRI scans. Preliminary conclusions suggest that attendees who used MDMA are recovering better and showing less severe symptoms of PTSD compared to those who used other substances.
While the study is ongoing and more research is needed, the researchers hope to gain valuable insights into how psychedelics might be used to treat patients after a traumatic event. The survivors of the Nova festival, with their unique experiences, provide a compelling case study for scientists exploring the potential therapeutic benefits of these substances in a clinical setting.
