Ananya Mishra

An Alternative to Addiction

After Child Protective Services removed Leslie White's children from her home, she was desperate to find a way to manage her methamphetamine addiction. She had tried countless treatment centers in Washington state, but the care was not as empathetic nor as effective as she had hoped it would be. Thanks to her self-administered psilocybin mushroom trips, she is now sober.

Intrigued by the clinical research around psilocybin therapy, Leslie started to take these mushrooms with the intention of healing her trauma. These trips left her with a strong feeling of self-acceptance, and a newfound desire to live her life in a more authentic way. Her inner child no longer felt as broken as she did before. She was beginning to heal.

Leslie, who now goes by the name "Lovely" has since strengthened her bond with her children. When she holds her grandson, Prince, in her arms, it's a symbolic representation of her second chance at life.

Lovely has since opened up her living room to individuals who are struggling with addiction. It's a non-judgmental space for people to trip on psilocybin mushrooms, reflect on their emotions, and do art therapy. These individuals are much more likely to open up to Lovely than they are to a healthcare professional, because she directly understands what they are going through. Lovely does not provide any illegal or illicit substances, but is willing to ensure the safety of the people that come to her. The method is untraditional, but it's an alternative.