Early, state-sanctioned LSD experiments in Bulgaria (2016)(atlasobscura.com)
atlasobscura.com
Early, state-sanctioned LSD experiments in Bulgaria (2016)
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-early-state-sanctioned-lsd-experiments-in-communist-bulgaria
23 comments
"if Timothy Leary didn't abuse LSD so blatantly in everybody's face for so long, it might not have ended up in same category as heroin."
I really don't get why Leary gets all the blame, instead of the ignorant, narrow-minded reactionaries who freaked out over it and actually made it illegal.
Psychedelics were strongly associated with hippies, the antiwar movement, and the counterculture -- that (and not anything Leary said or did) is the real reason they were made illegal.
There were also other events and people who inflamed the moral panic of the time, like the Manson murders, the suicide of Art Linkletter's daughter (which he blamed, without evidence, on LSD), Ken Kesey's acid tests (which were far more irresponsible than anything Leary ever did), etc.
I really don't get why Leary gets all the blame, instead of the ignorant, narrow-minded reactionaries who freaked out over it and actually made it illegal.
Psychedelics were strongly associated with hippies, the antiwar movement, and the counterculture -- that (and not anything Leary said or did) is the real reason they were made illegal.
There were also other events and people who inflamed the moral panic of the time, like the Manson murders, the suicide of Art Linkletter's daughter (which he blamed, without evidence, on LSD), Ken Kesey's acid tests (which were far more irresponsible than anything Leary ever did), etc.
> Psychedelics were strongly associated with hippies, the antiwar movement, and the counterculture -- that (and not anything Leary said or did) is the real reason they were made illegal.
I sometimes wonder if what was going on at the time had some effect on that decision - the cold war (among others) was going strong back then and I think the spread of the hippy mentality/lifestyle would have been a genuine threat to the US's ability to win that showdown. Now that the USSR is broken up might be the chance for try number two, but now we have China to be concerned with.
That said, this mainstreaming of psychedelics seems to be unfolding almost completely without government resistance, which seems surreal to me.
I sometimes wonder if what was going on at the time had some effect on that decision - the cold war (among others) was going strong back then and I think the spread of the hippy mentality/lifestyle would have been a genuine threat to the US's ability to win that showdown. Now that the USSR is broken up might be the chance for try number two, but now we have China to be concerned with.
That said, this mainstreaming of psychedelics seems to be unfolding almost completely without government resistance, which seems surreal to me.
Nixon hated the hippies, so he started the war on drugs which included both LSD and marijuana among other drugs.
https://harpers.org/archive/2016/04/legalize-it-all/
https://harpers.org/archive/2016/04/legalize-it-all/
The alleged Ehrlichman quote is brought up often but it should be taken with at least some skepticism. The surviving members of his family don't believe he made the quote:
>...Multiple family members of Ehrlichman (who died in 1999) challenge the veracity of the quote: The 1994 alleged 'quote' we saw repeated in social media for the first time today does not square with what we know of our father...We do not subscribe to the alleged racist point of view that this writer now implies 22 years following the so-called interview of John and 16 years following our father's death, when dad can no longer respond.[22]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ehrlichman
This is a very explosive quote - if Baum had included it in his book in 1996 I am sure it would have garnered a huge amount of attention for the book. Instead Baum did not include it in his book, but instead would wait for many years before making the claim when Ehrlichman was no longer around to dispute the quote. If the quote was actually said by Ehrlichman, it isn't a very accurate description of the overall drug polices of the Nixon administration. While Nixon is remembered for "war on drugs" rhetoric, the actual substance of his policies is a bit different than what people think it was:
>...I have been fortunate over the years to discuss the distorted memory of Nixon's drug policies with almost all of his key advisors as well as with historians. Their consensus is that because he was dramatically expanding the U.S. treatment system (by 350% in just 18 months!) and cutting criminal penalties, he had to reassure his right wing that he hadn’t gone soft. So he laid on some of the toughest anti-drug rhetoric in history, including making a White House speech declaring a “war on drugs” and calling drugs “public enemy number one”. It worked so well as cover that many people remember that “tough” press event and forget that what Nixon did at it was introduce not a general or a cop or a preacher to be his drug policy chief but…a medical doctor (Jerry Jaffe, a sweet, bookish man who had longish hair and sideburns and often wore the Mickey Mouse tie his kids had given him).
https://www.samefacts.com/who-started-the-war-on-drugs/
>..."Enforcement must be coupled with a rational approach to the reclamation of the drug user himself," Nixon told Congress in 1971. "We must rehabilitate the drug user if we are to eliminate drug abuse and all the antisocial activities that flow from drug abuse."
>The numbers back this up. According to the federal government's budget numbers for anti-drug programs, the "demand" side of the war on drugs (treatment, education, and prevention) consistently got more funding during Nixon's time in office (1969 to 1974) than the "supply" side (law enforcement and interdiction).
https://www.vox.com/2016/3/29/11325750/nixon-war-on-drugs
>...Multiple family members of Ehrlichman (who died in 1999) challenge the veracity of the quote: The 1994 alleged 'quote' we saw repeated in social media for the first time today does not square with what we know of our father...We do not subscribe to the alleged racist point of view that this writer now implies 22 years following the so-called interview of John and 16 years following our father's death, when dad can no longer respond.[22]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ehrlichman
This is a very explosive quote - if Baum had included it in his book in 1996 I am sure it would have garnered a huge amount of attention for the book. Instead Baum did not include it in his book, but instead would wait for many years before making the claim when Ehrlichman was no longer around to dispute the quote. If the quote was actually said by Ehrlichman, it isn't a very accurate description of the overall drug polices of the Nixon administration. While Nixon is remembered for "war on drugs" rhetoric, the actual substance of his policies is a bit different than what people think it was:
>...I have been fortunate over the years to discuss the distorted memory of Nixon's drug policies with almost all of his key advisors as well as with historians. Their consensus is that because he was dramatically expanding the U.S. treatment system (by 350% in just 18 months!) and cutting criminal penalties, he had to reassure his right wing that he hadn’t gone soft. So he laid on some of the toughest anti-drug rhetoric in history, including making a White House speech declaring a “war on drugs” and calling drugs “public enemy number one”. It worked so well as cover that many people remember that “tough” press event and forget that what Nixon did at it was introduce not a general or a cop or a preacher to be his drug policy chief but…a medical doctor (Jerry Jaffe, a sweet, bookish man who had longish hair and sideburns and often wore the Mickey Mouse tie his kids had given him).
https://www.samefacts.com/who-started-the-war-on-drugs/
>..."Enforcement must be coupled with a rational approach to the reclamation of the drug user himself," Nixon told Congress in 1971. "We must rehabilitate the drug user if we are to eliminate drug abuse and all the antisocial activities that flow from drug abuse."
>The numbers back this up. According to the federal government's budget numbers for anti-drug programs, the "demand" side of the war on drugs (treatment, education, and prevention) consistently got more funding during Nixon's time in office (1969 to 1974) than the "supply" side (law enforcement and interdiction).
https://www.vox.com/2016/3/29/11325750/nixon-war-on-drugs
How do you see the acid tests as irresponsible?
From my perception of history, kesey and the pranksters were just trying to have a fun time and blow some minds, while Leary came across as more a religious cult type, and telling everyone to drop out of society, which to me could be seen as more irresponsible.
From my perception of history, kesey and the pranksters were just trying to have a fun time and blow some minds, while Leary came across as more a religious cult type, and telling everyone to drop out of society, which to me could be seen as more irresponsible.
Watch my psychedelic lovestory, its very very interesting and informative.
The government was pretty determined to stamp out any kind of mind altering drug, ignoring the facts and opinions of experts and doctors. That was the case with LSD, it was the case with MDMA, where a lot of people testified to it's value in psychiatric medicine, but were simply ignored.
I think Hoffman's essay on the subject is one of the best "LSD my problem child" and is available online.
I think Hoffman's essay on the subject is one of the best "LSD my problem child" and is available online.
I don't condone Leary's research protocols, but the whole field was plagued with what is now seen as unethical experimentation back then. Leary was fired from Harvard in 1963, according to Wikipedia, and the Stanford Prison Experiment thing happened in 1971.
I really don't vibe with the manic LSD guru personality at all, never did, but the man was a consequence of his time and that kind of research happened all over the place and with all sorts of substances. I think LSD and weed would still be in the same schedule they are not, Leary or not Leary.
I really don't vibe with the manic LSD guru personality at all, never did, but the man was a consequence of his time and that kind of research happened all over the place and with all sorts of substances. I think LSD and weed would still be in the same schedule they are not, Leary or not Leary.
I personally don't believe the "Leary was an op" trope, but I certainly get why folks do.
So much rhetorical damage was done by so few people.
So much rhetorical damage was done by so few people.
My key takeaways from this that I also find thought provoking
> according to her findings, LSD cannot actually make one more creative. However, it can make a person “see” letters and words in different colors and experience synesthesia
No conclusion for me, I understand that people really want this to happen, I'm skeptical of that particular conclusion while also skeptical of what LSD could actually provide someone, but I'm open to any outcome.
> the drug enabled her to gain an insight into the world of the mentally ill by experiencing schizophrenia-like symptoms herself
This matches an 'empathy' element that many people say occurs after their usage
> according to her findings, LSD cannot actually make one more creative. However, it can make a person “see” letters and words in different colors and experience synesthesia
No conclusion for me, I understand that people really want this to happen, I'm skeptical of that particular conclusion while also skeptical of what LSD could actually provide someone, but I'm open to any outcome.
> the drug enabled her to gain an insight into the world of the mentally ill by experiencing schizophrenia-like symptoms herself
This matches an 'empathy' element that many people say occurs after their usage
It had an accepted use in psychiatry for what was called a "model psychosis" ie it would give you a temporary psychosis which would help you understand it.
When the government wanted to declare LSD illegal (it has escaped into a "party drug"), they simply declared that the model psychosis idea is wrong and it was scrapped. But I think it has a lot of validity, on LSD and mushrooms I've often thought about going mad and being in prison, and had a lot of empathy for those people.
When the government wanted to declare LSD illegal (it has escaped into a "party drug"), they simply declared that the model psychosis idea is wrong and it was scrapped. But I think it has a lot of validity, on LSD and mushrooms I've often thought about going mad and being in prison, and had a lot of empathy for those people.
"...on LSD and mushrooms I've often thought about going mad and being in prison, and had a lot of empathy for those people"
The thing is that it's quite common for people in the middle of psychotic episodes to lack what psychologists call "insight" in to their condition. That is, they don't realize that they're mentally ill, and even if they are confronted with the possibility they deny it.
So, paradoxically, by your thinking that you may be going mad, you're actually sane in a critical way that a mentally ill person is not.
Also, some typical features of schozophrenia (which the "psychotomimetic" view of psychedelics were supposed to evince) turned out not to be present in classical psychedelics (like LSD) -- things such as hearing voices. This is why use of the term "psychotomimetic" for these substances was eventually abandoned.
The thing is that it's quite common for people in the middle of psychotic episodes to lack what psychologists call "insight" in to their condition. That is, they don't realize that they're mentally ill, and even if they are confronted with the possibility they deny it.
So, paradoxically, by your thinking that you may be going mad, you're actually sane in a critical way that a mentally ill person is not.
Also, some typical features of schozophrenia (which the "psychotomimetic" view of psychedelics were supposed to evince) turned out not to be present in classical psychedelics (like LSD) -- things such as hearing voices. This is why use of the term "psychotomimetic" for these substances was eventually abandoned.
Me doing some task: I'm not an idiot.
My 6-year-old: How would you know?
Like most drugs, it gives you a perspective. It's perfectly fine if that's not your cup of tea. Most people, especially rusty cans, should stay away from stuff like this. It is well known that different perspectives are not only stupid, but also very dangerous. Can't have that
In the late 50s/early sixties (not sure on the timeframe,) my father was involved in experiments giving (then legal) sandoz LSD to schizophrenic people, and also experimenting with teaching them tai chi. The studies were inconclusive, with 1/3 of the patients experiencing little or no benefit, 1/3 experiencing some or great benefit, and 1/3 experiencing negative effects.
The research was eventually abandoned, however there were some positive findings teaching people with downs syndrome tai chi.
The research was eventually abandoned, however there were some positive findings teaching people with downs syndrome tai chi.
>This matches an 'empathy' element that many people say occurs after their usage
The empathy LSD fans are talking about isn't "yes, I have experienced drug side effects similar to your natural illness," it's something broader than that.
The empathy LSD fans are talking about isn't "yes, I have experienced drug side effects similar to your natural illness," it's something broader than that.
yes broader but also includes that.
> the drug enabled her to gain an insight into the world of the mentally ill by experiencing schizophrenia-like symptoms herself
The book "How to Change Your Mind" discuses this quality of LSD, as well as the history and cultural impact of it and other psychedelics. In it, the author discusses how an early term for psychedelic drugs were "psycho-mimetic" - meaning that they mimic psychological problems such as schizophrenia. This was thought to be a very good use-case for them. Mental Health professionals could take a drug to understand the symptoms of their patients better, and thus treat them better.
However, schizophrenia and the LSD-affected mind are fairly different - and many drugs also have this label of "Psychotomimetic", as seen here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotomimetic
The book "How to Change Your Mind" discuses this quality of LSD, as well as the history and cultural impact of it and other psychedelics. In it, the author discusses how an early term for psychedelic drugs were "psycho-mimetic" - meaning that they mimic psychological problems such as schizophrenia. This was thought to be a very good use-case for them. Mental Health professionals could take a drug to understand the symptoms of their patients better, and thus treat them better.
However, schizophrenia and the LSD-affected mind are fairly different - and many drugs also have this label of "Psychotomimetic", as seen here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotomimetic
You guys know about Mk Ultra by now right?
This is not at all surprising, if you are familiar with the history of psychedelics.
At around the same time (and even earlier) similar "state-sanctioned" LSD (and other psychedelic) experimentation was being carried out in the US, Canada, and other parts of Europe.
LSD was around this time (and may still remain) the most researched psychoactive compound in history, with thousands of papers written on it.
No surprise that there was a lot of research on it all over the world.
At around the same time (and even earlier) similar "state-sanctioned" LSD (and other psychedelic) experimentation was being carried out in the US, Canada, and other parts of Europe.
LSD was around this time (and may still remain) the most researched psychoactive compound in history, with thousands of papers written on it.
No surprise that there was a lot of research on it all over the world.
Discussed at the time (of the article):
Early State-Sanctioned LSD Experiments in Communist Bulgaria - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11827622 - June 2016 (15 comments)
Early State-Sanctioned LSD Experiments in Communist Bulgaria - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11827622 - June 2016 (15 comments)
Btw Czech Stanislav Grof mentioned in article is/was a big name in clinical research of LSD. He later moved to US. He also has some good screen time in great documentary about LSD invention by Hofmann - The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD [2]
Basically if Timothy Leary didn't abuse LSD so blatantly in everybody's face for so long, it might not have ended up in same category as heroin. Even after 60 years the damage he has done (albeit in good faith, but that doesn't matter much) is not completely reversed.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXMHdhQL_8 [2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2075352/