Joost Breeksema

Joost Breeksema is the executive director and co-founder of the OPEN Foundation, where he is focused on bringing together academics, clinicians, politicians and policy makers, in order to steer the integration of psychedelics in society and healthcare in a responsible and sustainable way. With years of experience in harm reduction and drug policy research, and a MA degree in philosophy, for his PhD he presently conducts qualitative research, interviewing patients about their treatment experiences with ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA. His aim is to deepen our understanding of the potential therapeutic mechanisms involved and the role of setting, therapy, and other contextual factors in mitigating adverse effects. Underlying all his work is a deep-seated belief in the scientifically grounded, responsible and ethical integration of psychedelics that respects the multiplicity of other, non-medical approaches. He advocates for critical, collaborative, open, and transparent approaches in science and beyond.