LSD and psychiatry in the sixties

During the period leading up to the banning of LSD, several specific concerns among professionals played a crucial role in shaping legislative attitudes toward the drug. Below are some provable facts that illustrate these concerns and their impact:

Safety Concerns

  1. Acute Psychological Reactions:

    • Numerous case reports and studies documented acute psychological reactions to LSD, such as panic attacks, paranoia, and psychosis. These were sometimes referred to as "bad trips."
    • Example: The 1967 article by Hans Lehmann, published in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal," described various adverse reactions to LSD, emphasizing the unpredictability of its effects on users.

  2. HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder):

    • HPPD is a condition where users experience flashbacks or persistent visual disturbances long after the drug's effects have worn off.
    • A study published in 1969 by Dr. Max Rinkel, a psychiatrist who initially worked with LSD in therapeutic settings, highlighted cases of long-term perceptual disturbances among users.

  3. Physical Safety Risks:

    • Instances of self-harm or accidents under the influence of LSD were reported, exacerbating fears about the drug's safety.
    • Example: The 1966 article in "Science" by Sidney Cohen detailed various accident-related injuries and deaths among people under the influence of LSD.

Potential for Lasting Psychological Harm

  1. Psychotic Episodes and Schizophrenia:

    • There were reported cases where LSD use seemed to trigger prolonged psychotic episodes or exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions like schizophrenia.
    • Example: In a 1967 study published in "The American Journal of Psychiatry," Dr. Adolf Dittrich and his colleagues discussed the role of LSD in triggering psychotic episodes in individuals with latent mental illnesses.

  2. Negative Psychiatric Outcomes:

    • Psychiatrists observed that a subset of individuals experienced lasting anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms after using LSD.
    • Example: A comprehensive survey conducted by Dr. Stanley Yolles, then director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), echoed concerns about the long-term mental health impacts of LSD on users.

Difficulty of Controlling Use

  1. Unregulated and Widespread Recreational Use:

    • Unlike controlled clinical settings, the widespread recreational use of LSD made it difficult to monitor dosages, purity, and the settings in which it was consumed.
    • Example: By the mid-1960s, media reports proliferated about high school and college students frequently using LSD in uncontrolled environments.

  2. Negative Cultural Shifts:

    • The association of LSD with the counterculture movement and its anti-establishment ethos made regulatory authorities more inclined to restrict its use, driven by the desire to curb what was seen as a socially destabilizing influence.
    • Example: The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency held hearings in 1966, focusing on the alarming rise in LSD use among young people and the potential societal impacts, documented in the Senate Report on "LSD and Other Hallucinogens."

Professional and Public Advocacy

  1. AMA (American Medical Association):

    • The AMA issued statements in the 1960s warning about the non-medical use of LSD and calling for stricter controls.
    • Example: In a 1966 statement, the AMA supported legislation to classify LSD as a dangerous drug requiring regulation.

  2. Public Health Recommendations:

    • Influential public health officials like Dr. Robert H. Felix, then director of the NIMH, recommended stringent controls on LSD after evaluating its risks and benefits.
    • Felix's testimonies before Congress in the late 1960s emphasized the urgent need to control the widespread, unregulated use of LSD.

  3. Historical Context in Legislation:

    • The passing of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 classified LSD as a Schedule I drug, influenced by testimonies and recommendations from medical professionals highlighting its risks.
    • Example: The proceedings from the Senate hearings on the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act included testimonies from experts detailing the psychological and social risks of LSD, cementing its inclusion in the most restrictive category.

Conclusion

The cumulative effect of these documented safety concerns, the potential for lasting psychological harm, and the difficulty in controlling its use influenced both public opinion and legislative action. Strong voices within the professional psychiatric and medical communities played a pivotal role in advocating for legal restrictions, ultimately leading to the prohibition of LSD.