Prince Harry claims cannabis and ayahuasca «helped him mentally»

The Duke of Sussex opened up about his drug use during a Q&A session organized as part of the release of his book The Substitute (Spare in Shakespeare's language).

Speaking of cocaine, Prince Harry told Dr. Gabor Maté: «It didn't do anything for me. It was more of a social thing.

He added: «It gave me a sense of belonging, for sure. It also made me feel different from how I felt, which is kind of the point.»

Moving on to cannabis, which he admitted to having used in the past, Harry said, «Cannabis is different, it's really helped me.»

The interview was conducted by Dr. Gabor Maté, an expert in trauma and childhood development, specializing in addictions and a fervent advocate of drug decriminalization. He himself used ayahuasca to treat patients suffering from addiction and mental illness.

Prince Harry's interview with Dr Gabor Maté

The discussion focused more generally on how to live after the loss of a loved one and the importance of personal healing. The live event took place a month after the release of the much-anticipated book, which explains how the young prince coped with the death of his mother, Princess Diana.

He also revealed that he had felt strong peer pressure. to drink alcohol.

The Prince said, «I was at a dinner party and everyone was drinking and I wasn't the one drinking. I felt left out of the conversation, so much so that they said ‘if you don't want a drink, leave’. So I said ‘Okay, I'll leave’.»

«I began to realize that this was the way the world was.»

«If, for whatever reason, you don't drink or don't want to drink that night, there seems to be this peer group pressure.»

The Duke also recounted used psychedelic substances like ayahuasca.

He continues: «It was a way of cleansing, purifying, removing the filters of life like on Instagram, with those layers of filters.»

«It laid me bare and gave me a sense of relaxation, liberation, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a while.»

«I started doing it recreationally, then I began to realize how good it was for me, I'd say it's one of the fundamental parts of my life that has changed me and helped me deal with past trauma and pain.»