Life isn’t exactly what it should be for Steve Hupp. He was a high school dropout and a convicted bank robber. He is also a well-known shaman who many people turn to for advice as they struggle to lessen the lingering effects of trauma in their lives. Hupp is part of a growing movement, documented in the VICE documentary “Ayahuasca Kentucky,” that is eagerly seeking to legalize the medicinal use of the powerful psychedelic herb.
Trials of ayahuasca have been conducted in Latin American countries such as Peru and Brazil, and results have shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, opiate addiction and depression. However, in regions such as the United States, it has been banned as a harmful narcotic similar to heroin. Proponents say the classification improperly bans treatments that should be considered deeply spiritual.
According to Hupp, the drug “can do in two days what conventional treatments might take years to do.” Much of the film is devoted to proving the truth of this claim. Three subjects came to Hupp’s retreat to take ayahuasca for an extended period of time. Each of them suffered from past traumas that got in the way of their lives.
She has yet to overcome the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Another stood helpless, watching his mother drink to death. A third survivor has struggled with addiction and watched his brother die from an overdose. They come to the retreat hoping it will free them from the overwhelming despair and fear that dominate their lives. They swallowed the hallucinogen in the form of tea, and began the treatment with fear and determination.
The most surprising thing about this movie is that it’s not a soapbox sermon about the absurdity of modern drug law. It makes its point by actually showing you the benefits of ayahuasca instead of just touting its second-hand value. Ayahuasca Kentucky is a poignant portrait of trauma and a tribute to the unwavering strength of those determined to pursue it.
