BOOTLEGGED ECSTASY
JAMA – March 07, 1964
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Quiet scientific endeavors exploring Lysergic acid diethylamide and Psilocybin for their potential in Psychiatry haven't yielded medical breakthroughs for psychoses. Instead, these potent hallucinogens have created societal issues. A lack of appropriate publicity has led to widespread misuse, offering personal gratification, pleasure, and a false sense of ecstasy. This unintended consequence underscores complex ethical considerations for psychotherapists and other professionals when examining such compounds, distinct from established treatments like Pimozide.
Abstract
For several years, quietly and without publicity, several scientists have been studying the behavioral pharmacology of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), and lately psilocybin, on experimental animals and human subjects. The psychotic effects of these drugs have some but not complete similarity to the schizophrenic psychoses, which has resulted in their classification as psychomimetics. Yet the study of their effects has not given a clue to the etiology or therapy of the naturally appearing psychoses, although a wealth of information regarding abnormal mental states has accrued. We are now confronted with two untoward byproducts which have no relation to legitimate scientific endeavors. The first is the widespread use of these drugs by irresponsible lay persons for their "kick" effect, for the gratification derived from vivid hallucinatory experience, and the pleasure of belonging to a "superior" social group which transcends the mundane existence of ordinary people. The second is the experimentation with