Jennifer Spencer: Psychedelic drug Prince Harry praised linked to woman's suicide
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The family of a young woman who committed suicide after consuming the same psychedelic drug Prince Harry praised last weekend is the latest group of people to join the campaign to denounce his comments. For the last few days, the Duke of Sussex has received backlash for discussing his drug use in a 90-minute livestream with trauma expert Dr Gabor Mate. Some experts even claimed that he was sending a very alarming and worrying message to the youth with his "positive" talk of drugs.
In the controversial interview, the 38-year-old said how using cannabis, which is a class B drug 'really helped' him to deal with his mental health following his mother's death. He also detailed his "positive" experience of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca, saying it "brought me a sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time".
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The tragic death of Jennifer Spencer
Jennifer Spencer took her life in 2019 when she was just 29 years old. Spencer's family has described the duke's comments as "irresponsible". Spencer traveled to enjoy a yoga retreat in Peru where she took ayahuasca which is an illegal hallucinogenic drug and a Class A substance in the UK. As a result, she suffered severe psychosis, which ultimately led her to take her own life.
Fiona Chase, Spencer's 73-year-old aunt, said Prince Harry should not have made such a statement in public as it can cause harm to many people in many different ways which are way beyond his imagination. "He should not be speaking positively about this drug. It's irresponsible because a lot of people look up to him," she told The Sun. "It worked for him, but it certainly didn't work for Jenny. Like every drug, different people react differently."
The coroner issued an urgent warning about the drug to the NHS after Spencer's death, saying, "There is a lack of awareness about shamanic hallucinogenic drugs and their propensity to cause or exacerbate psychosis. Action should be taken to prevent future deaths."
What did Prince Harry say?
The duke was interviewed by therapist Dr Mate, who is an outspoken supporter of decriminalizing drugs, has allegedly used Amazonian plant ayahuasca to treat patients suffering from mental illness. "[Cocaine] didn't do anything for me, it was more a social thing and gave me a sense of belonging for sure, I think it probably also made me feel different to the way I was feeling, which was kind of the point," he said, according to Daily Mail. "Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me."
'Concern for young people'
Jennifer Spencer is, however, not the only individual who has suffered a drug-related tragic outcome. Fiona Spargo-Mabbs launched a drug education charity in her son Daniel's name after he died of an accidental MDMA overdose aged 16. Mabbs described Prince Harry's comments as "concerning".
"Our work is with under-18s and our concern is that this can send a message that is going to make young people think that drugs are going to help them with stuff that is really difficult," she said. "It is a time when a lot of them are struggling with their mental health. Numbers have really increased and access to support services is a real struggle as services are incredibly stretched. Unfortunately young people are getting the message from somewhere that drugs are going to help with their problems and anything that reinforces that is a concern for us. Using drugs as a coping strategy is more likely to lead to dependence than other motivations because that becomes how you are coping with something."
She added, "He has been very public about his drug use, which is one thing, but the statement that it helped him is a concern for young people."