South Africa's shamans: The unregulated use of psychedelics for mental health | BBC News

BBC Africa Eye investigates South Africa’s underground psychedelic therapy industry, where the pursuit of healing can have devastating consequences.

One in two people globally will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime according to the World Health Organisation.

Treating these is a multi-billion-dollar global business, which does not just benefit big pharmaceutical companies. It is a market that operates with little oversight and, critics say, often puts clients at risk of serious harm and even death.

Africa Eye investigates Cape Town’s emergence as a hub for unregulated psychedelic treatments - and gains rare access to South Africa's network of treatment centres, where illegal drugs are freely administered, leaving participants vulnerable to potentially harmful consequences.

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Post from BBC News on October 26, 2025

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