How were drugs used in some puberty rites and coming-of-age ceremonies?

In many cultures, drugs have been used ritually to enhance the puberty ordeal through which a youth is transitioned from childhood to adulthood.1

These substances function as teachers, guiding participants through experiences of spiritual growth during these ceremonies. By participating in these rites, youths are often viewed as undergoing a psychological rebirth, which can provide a sense of power, freedom, and self-knowledge. The use of these drugs is often structured as a sacrament, allowing the initiate to appropriate the qualities or gifts of the divine, such as visions, energy, and direction, which serve to certify their new status as an adult.1