Why did some religious groups use hallucinogenic substances in rituals?

Religious groups have historically used hallucinogenic substances in rituals to facilitate profound spiritual experiences and connect with the divine. These practices are often structured within a drug cult, where the substances serve as tools for achieving specific religious and social goals.1

The primary reasons for their use include:

• Mystical Revelation: Practitioners seek a direct, subjective experience of ultimate reality or the divine. These substances can induce states of self-transcendence, where ego boundaries dissolve, potentially leading to a psychological rebirth that provides a sense of power, freedom, and creative energy.12
• Sacramental Function: The drugs are often treated as sacraments, allowing worshippers to appropriate the qualities, gifts, or powers of the gods.2
• Purification and Healing: Ritual drug use is frequently associated with purification, where the physical effects of the substances—such as nausea and vomiting—are interpreted as a purging of faults. Additionally, these substances are used in healing rites and to provide guidance through divination, helping participants navigate life's challenges or seek answers to important questions.3
• Spiritual Growth: Drugs may function as teachers, guiding participants through rites of passage, such as puberty ordeals, to mark transitions in life.2