Kava: The Pasifika Psychoactive Brew - Talk and Q&A on Kava’s Cultural Roots & Legal Scrutiny

Kava is a 3,000-year-old drink at the heart of South Pacific cultures, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, and other nations. It is most commonly traditionally prepared by steeping the roots of Piper methysticum in cold water. Containing a number of mildly psychoactive compounds that relax the body and mind, kava can be compared in strength to caffeine. Similarly to alcohol, it is used both ceremonially and recreationally. 

Kava’s deep cultural and social significance is still very much alive for the thousands of Pacific islanders who have made the UK their home. Yet in 2002, it was de facto banned in the UK due to a spike in liver damage incidents. In an online talk, psychotherapist and drug policy advocate Sam Lawes will explore the ancient cultural roots of kava, discuss its effects, and demonstrate that the negative health claims about kava do not withstand scrutiny. He will make the case for revoking Kava's ban and imagine how this cultural export from the Pacific islands could take its place in the rich tapestry of British cultural life.

About Sam Lawes

Sam Lawes joined the Centre for Evidence-Based Drug Policy (CEBDP) in November 2022 with a background in early years policy and patient voice advocacy. While working at early years charity WAVE Trust, he saw how addiction, trauma, and mental ill health are often intimately intertwined. He has a psychotherapy private practice in central London and divides his time between drug policy, psychotherapy, and dad duties.

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