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Dec 14, 1934 Bill Wilson experiences his “white light” spiritual awakening at Towns Hospital, following treatment that included a belladonna-based psychoactive cocktail.

Aug 29, 1956 Bill Wilson takes LSD under the guidance of Gerald Heard and psychiatrist Dr. Sidney Cohen.

1956–1959 Wilson continues to receive guided LSD sessions, primarily to address chronic depression.

Jan 1958 Wilson’s article “The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety” is published in The AA Grapevine, articulating a vision of ongoing emotional and spiritual growth beyond abstinence.

1960s–? An unknowable number of members across Alcoholics Anonymous and emerging Twelve Step fellowships (including Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, and Adult Children of Alcoholics) quietly experiment with psychedelics for spiritual development, psychological healing, and personal growth.

1990s Todd Y. integrates ayahuasca experiences with Twelve Step recovery in southern Missouri, becoming an early exemplar of this synthesis.

2014 Dimitri M. and Steve S. found Plant Medicines in Recovery (PMIR) in New York City.

Sep 25–27, 2015 Dimitri meets Todd Y. at a psychedelic conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Fall 2015 After PMIR folds, Kevin F. approaches Dimitri and Steve to renew the idea of a recovery-based psychedelic fellowship in New York City.

2015–2016 The NYC group holds a series of group consciences to define its identity, grounding itself in the lineage of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions fellowships. During this period the preamble and guiding principles are developed, and the name Psychedelics In Recovery™ – PIR® is adopted.

Jan 17, 2017 Psychedelics and the 12 Steps, an event organized by Dimitri and Kevin, is held in New York City. Featuring authors Don Lattin and Robert Hayward, the event explores addiction, recovery, and psychedelic history — from Bill W.’s LSD experiences to contemporary practices, including Native American Church peyote ceremonies.

Apr 23, 2017 At Psychedelic Science in San Jose, CA, Todd, Kevin, Kayci, Don L., Deb P., Jon F., and others meet during a PIR® Community Forum organized by Kevin. A group conscience establishes PIR®’s first online meeting — later known as The OG Group — which remains the fellowship’s longest-running meeting.

Spring 2019 Jon D. builds PIR®’s website, enabling global participation. Members from Australia, Ireland, and Great Britain begin regularly attending The OG Group.

Winter 2019 Yadim C. and Erin S. launch PIR®’s San Diego meeting, the first in-person PIR® meeting since 2016. The group develops the foundational reading “Integration: A Plan of Action.”

Mar–Fall 2020 🌊 COVID-19 lockdowns drive a rapid influx of newcomers discovering PIR®. The meeting schedule expands to daily offerings, and PIR® organizes into service: Intergroup, a Literature Committee, and a Group Service Representative (GSR) body are born — marking PIR®’s transition from an informal network into an organized fellowship.

Winter 2020–Summer 2023 PIR® experiences sustained growth and structural development. New meetings launch across multiple time zones, efforts to formalize service roles increase, and literature expands through collaborative group conscience. PIR® increasingly attracts clinicians, researchers, and long-term recovery members seeking ethical frameworks for psychedelic integration.

2021–2022 PIR® builds on earlier media coverage of its founders by participating more visibly in the public and professional psychedelic ecosystem. Members contribute to conferences, panels, media interviews, and research collaborations, while working to remain in integrity around clear boundaries related to representation and non-endorsement.

2023 🏛️ PIR® incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, establishing the Board of Directors and beginning focused efforts to promote organizational sustainability.

2024–Present Psychedelics In Recovery™ – PIR® enters a maturation phase characterized by national and international reach, increasing collaboration with academic and policy stakeholders, and the development of original publications, evolving service models, and in-person gatherings. The fellowship continues to balance grassroots peer support with growing visibility in psychedelic research, policy, and recovery discourse — while remaining anchored in its primary purpose: carrying a message of recovery to those still suffering.