Fentanyl Took Her Son, Psychedelics and Art Saved Her Life

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jan. 6, 2025 - PRLog -- After losing her son Sean to a fentanyl overdose, Florida psychotherapist and artist Deborah Kadagian found herself at the depths of unimaginable despair. But instead of succumbing to grief, she turned to two unconventional tools — psychedelics and art — to survive, heal, and find meaning. Her new book, The Alchemy of Grief: Conversations in Paint (January 21, 2025 Project-Shift), documents her deeply personal journey and reveals the transformative power of creative expression and plant-based medicine.

In this poignant and provocative art book, Kadagian brings readers into her world as a mother navigating devastating loss and as a psychotherapist exploring nontraditional paths to healing. Through a series of raw, emotional paintings and courageous self-reflection, she transforms her suffering into art — and in doing so, begins to reclaim her life.

"I was trapped in pain and darkness," says Kadagian. "Psychedelics, paired with art, didn't just help me grieve — they helped me see Sean, and my own life, with new clarity and purpose."

The Alchemy of Grief is more than one woman's story. It sheds light on the devastating opioid epidemic and the emerging role of psychedelics — like psilocybin and ayahuasca — in mental health and trauma recovery. Combining memoir, therapeutic insight, and powerful imagery, Kadagian's book is a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Key Themes include:

Psychedelics as emerging tools for grief and trauma healing

Art as a pathway to process loss and reclaim identity

A mother's unflinching account of love, pain, and hope

Deborah Kadagian's work has already begun to resonate with others facing loss. With opioid addiction ravaging communities nationwide, The Alchemy of Grief offers a bold, hopeful message: from devastation can come profound transformation.

The Alchemy of Grief: Conversations in Paint will be released January 21, 2025, and is available for pre-order now.

About the Author:
Deborah Kadagian is a psychotherapist, artist, and grieving mother who turned to painting and plant-based psychedelics to process the tragic loss of her son, Sean, an apprentice shaman. Her work focuses on art as therapy, healing through alternative methods, and finding purpose in grief.

Availability:
The Alchemy of Grief: Conversations in Paint will be available beginning January 21, 2025, through www.amazon.com, https://www.project-shift.com/alchemy and www.deborahkadagian.com

Join the Conversation:
Media outlets, mental health professionals, art therapists, and advocates of psychedelic therapy are encouraged to engage with this transformative work. To request interviews, review copies, or additional information, please contact Suzanne Balaban at suzanne@bmmworldwide.com or 212 796 5895

About the Book:
Title: The Alchemy of Grief: Conversations in Paint
Author: Deborah Kadagian
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Available: www.amazon.com
https://www.project-shift.com/alchemy

MEDIA INQUIRIES & INTERVIEWS

To request an interview with Deborah Kadagian or to receive an advance copy of the book, contact:
Suzanne Balaban
BMM Worldwide
suzanne@bmmworldwide.com 212 796 5895