Divided by Design: How Altered States Empowered the Privileged While Controlling the Disadvantaged

This is part two of a three-part series that delves into how altered states of consciousness served very different purposes for different social classes, often reinforcing social divides. While psychedelics and meditation became tools of empowerment, creativity, and mental wellness for affluent, often white, communities, marginalized populations faced punitive measures and public health crises stemming from altered states interventions. Through case studies of the counterculture movement, drug policy, and the selective criminalization of substances, this article exposes how altered states have empowered some while controlling others. We’ll examine the racial and socioeconomic biases embedded in these practices, revealing a complex tapestry of privilege and oppression within the realm of altered states.

**Section 1: The Rise of Psychedelics and Mindfulness Among the Privileged**

In the 1960s and 1970s, psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin became symbols of countercultural liberation, self-exploration, and expanded consciousness among middle- and upper-class Americans. Figures like Timothy Leary, a former Harvard psychologist, championed psychedelics as tools for personal freedom and self-realization, encouraging people to "turn on, tune in, drop out." This message resonated with well-educated, middle- and upper-class individuals who had the social freedom to experiment with these substances relatively safely, often avoiding legal consequences or stigma. Psychedelics and altered states were framed as pathways to creativity, spiritual growth, and rebellion against restrictive social norms, ultimately birthing a cultural revolution that has left a lasting impact on American society .

Simultaneously, mindfulness and meditation practices, influenced by Eastern philosophies, found their way into elite circles, promising stress relief, personal growth, and productivity enhancement. The wellness industry, which markets mindfulness and self-care practices, has capitalized on these ideas, turning them into symbols of sophistication and self-improvement for the middle and upper classes. This movement is often critiqued as an example of "spiritual consumerism"—a rebranding of ancient spiritual practices into commodities for personal enhancement, largely accessible to the privileged.

**Key Examples:**

- *Psychedelic Therapy Trials (Current and Historical)*: Psychedelics, initially criminalized, have recently gained acceptance in clinical settings as treatments for mental health issues like PTSD and depression. Wealthier patients and private clinics are now accessing these therapies, marking a contrast to the punishment-oriented approach still applied to many substance users in lower-income brackets.

- *Mindfulness and Wellness Industry*: Yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness practices are frequently marketed to middle- and upper-class consumers as ways to increase productivity and personal well-being, largely overlooking broader applications or accessibility for lower-income communities.

**Section 2: The War on Drugs and the Targeting of Marginalized Communities**

While psychedelics were celebrated as tools for self-exploration by certain groups, marginalized communities—especially Black and Latino populations—faced a different reality. In 1971, President Nixon declared the War on Drugs, marking a period of intense criminalization of drug use. Although the policy was presented as an anti-drug initiative, it disproportionately targeted communities of color, which were heavily policed and penalized for drug offenses. This campaign, driven by racial and socioeconomic biases, led to mass incarceration and systemic harm that still affects these communities today .

According to admissions by Nixon’s own aides, the War on Drugs was partially a strategic effort to disrupt communities of color and antiwar activists by associating these groups with drug culture and then criminalizing it. By stoking fears of drug-related crime and addiction, the government was able to justify increased policing and incarceration, which had devastating long-term effects on Black and Latino communities. For many of these individuals, altered states were not sources of empowerment but rather pathways to prison and lifelong disenfranchisement.

**Key Examples:**

- *Mandatory Minimum Sentences*: Legislation like the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 imposed harsh sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine, substances similar in their effects but used by different demographics. Crack, associated with Black communities, carried far higher penalties than powder cocaine, which was more common among white and affluent users.

- *Racial Profiling in Drug Enforcement*: Studies have shown that although drug use rates are similar across racial groups, Black Americans are arrested and imprisoned for drug-related offenses at significantly higher rates than their white counterparts.

**Section 3: The Opioid Crisis and the Different Response to Addiction in White Communities**

The opioid crisis in the 2000s marked another stark contrast in how altered states were perceived and managed based on race and class. When opioid addiction began to devastate primarily white, rural communities, the public response was dramatically different from the punitive measures used during the crack epidemic. This time, addiction was treated more as a public health issue, prompting widespread sympathy, funding for treatment programs, and legal actions against pharmaceutical companies. Unlike the War on Drugs, which led to mass incarceration, the opioid crisis inspired reforms focused on rehabilitation and understanding addiction as a medical issue rather than a criminal one .

The different responses to crack and opioids underscore a racial and class bias in America’s drug policies, revealing a deep-rooted inequity in how altered states are managed depending on the demographics involved. White Americans grappling with addiction have more often been afforded empathy and access to medical resources, whereas Black and Latino Americans have been disproportionately criminalized for similar struggles.

**Key Examples:**

- *Opioid Treatment Programs*: Many opioid treatment centers are situated in predominantly white areas, and public funding has been allocated to support these facilities. This approach is in stark contrast to the prison-oriented response seen in communities affected by the crack epidemic.

- *Lawsuits Against Pharmaceutical Companies*: Major pharmaceutical corporations, including Purdue Pharma, faced lawsuits for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. The accountability measures for corporate malpractice in the opioid epidemic contrast sharply with the punitive approaches directed at individuals and communities affected by other drug crises.

**Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Divided Approaches to Altered States**

The history of altered states interventions reveals a systemic pattern: while the privileged have used these states for self-exploration and wellness, marginalized communities have been criminalized and stigmatized for similar experiences. This divide has contributed to cycles of empowerment for some and oppression for others, reflecting broader social and racial inequalities. By examining these contrasting approaches, this article underscores the need for equity and accountability in how society handles altered states, pushing for a future where these experiences are not sources of harm or control but of healing and understanding for all.

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These examples and case studies highlight how altered states, framed differently depending on race and class, reflect broader societal biases and power dynamics. Through this examination, readers are encouraged to question the underlying agendas in both historical and modern approaches to altered states, recognizing the importance of advocating for equitable and non-exploitative policies.