Decoding Europe’s Psychedelic Past & Future

A live 60-minute webinar with David Drapkin, MSW

A live 60-minute webinar with David Drapkin, MSW

Europe has long played a central role in the history of consciousness research, healing traditions, and mental health innovation. From the mysteries of ancient Greece to the modern laboratories, clinics, and policy movements shaping the next era of psychedelic care. This webinar explores how Europe’s deep cultural roots, scientific leadership, and evolving regulatory landscape are converging into a distinct and influential psychedelic future.

Join David Drapkin, MSW for a timely conversation on the history, science, policy, and real-world trends defining the European psychedelic field today, and where it’s heading next.

Wednesday, 20 May
6:00 PM CET
60 minutes total
45-minute presentation · 15-minute Q&A

Meet the host

David Drapkin, MSW, is a social worker, clinical psychotherapist, and educator specializing in integrative wellness, psychedelic therapy, and clinical AI. David previously worked at Mount Sinai Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Englewood Health, Forge Health, and Psychedelics Today.

David is the Head of Education at Pink Elephant, a venture builder and early-stage partner focused on digital health, mental wellbeing and emerging therapeutic models.

David has hosted over 100 podcasts, webinars and conference panels and facilitated over 200 educational sessions — mostly on psychedelic-related topics. He has previously hosted podcasts for Psychedelics Today, The Healing Mindset, and U-PEP (University Psychedelic Education Program), he was also the host of MarpaMinds YouTube channel. David is currently the Clinical AI Architect for the EverKind emotional wellness platform. David has a private psychotherapy practice where he sees clients remotely and in-person.

Why attend

This session is designed for professionals who want an accurate, and more grounded understanding of the current European psychedelic landscape, and its rich history.

You’ll get:

• A big-picture view of Europe’s psychedelic past, present, and emerging future.
• Insight into the key research, clinical, and policy developments shaping the field.
• A more nuanced understanding of how Europe differs from the North American narrative.
• Practical context for clinicians, therapists, practitioners, researchers, and policy professionals working in or adjacent to this space.
• Early access to our upcoming educational programming and online community.

What you’ll learn

In this webinar, we’ll explore:

• Ancient foundations – from the Eleusinian Mysteries to long-standing European traditions involving ritual, healing, and altered states.
• Hidden historical lineages – including folk medicine, herbalism, and symbolic traditions that persisted through the Middle Ages.
• The Basel breakthrough – Albert Hofmann’s discovery of LSD-25 and Switzerland’s foundational role in psychedelic science.
• Post-war / Pre-Prohibition Innovation – An explosion of research where the UK pioneered therapy, Italy led psilocybin trials, and Czechoslovakia became a global psychedelic powerhouse.
• Switzerland’s compassionate access model – why Swiss MDMA and psilocybin access programs are considered a global benchmark.
• The Netherlands’ dual ecosystem – from smart shops to retreat centers, and what that complexity reveals about real-world psychedelic use.
• Europe’s policy frontier – Portugal’s decriminalization model, and regulated psilocybin access in Germany and Czechia.
• Academic leaders of the third wave – A look at some of Europe’s most influential institutions: Imperial College London, the University of Zurich, King’s College London, and Maastricht University
• The significance of PsyPal – and what large-scale European public funding means for the future of psychedelic research.

Who this is for

This webinar is especially relevant for:

• Clinicians and therapists
• Psychedelic practitioners and educators
• Researchers and academics
• Policy professionals
• Professionals exploring the European psychedelic sector

Whether you are already active in the field or trying to understand where Europe is heading, this session will give you a strong foundation.

Why this conversation matters now

The future of psychedelics will not be shaped by clinical trials alone.

Across Europe, a more complex picture is emerging - one that includes public research funding, compassionate access pathways, decriminalization models, ketamine clinics, retreat ecosystems, and growing interest in professional standards for non-clinical practice.

Our work sits at the intersection of clinical rigor and human-centered, real-world application. We believe the next generation of education in this field must be both ethically grounded and immediately actionable.

This webinar marks the beginning of that conversation.

Save your spot, register for the event

Wednesday, 27 May
6:00 PM CET
60 minutes total
45-minute presentation · 15-minute Q&A

Note: This webinar is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented does not constitute medical, clinical, or legal advice, and is not intended to promote or encourage the use of controlled substances. All discussions will focus on history, research, policy, and emerging developments within the field