Learning about STP
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals October 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3368/hopp.65.1.93 via OpenAlex
Summary
In 1967, the synthetic psychedelic drug STP emerged in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, leading to a public health crisis. Different groups, including young doctors and underground chemists, interpreted the drug's effects, but only the doctors gained recognition as experts in media narratives. This article examines how STP was framed as a dangerous substance through various sources, highlighting the importance of understanding historical drug crises in the context of evolving perceptions of psychedelics.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The public perception of STP as a dangerous drug was largely shaped by the recognition of young doctors as experts while excluding other perspectives. |
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Abstract
Abstract In 1967, a synthetic psychedelic drug, nicknamed STP, escaped from the archives of Dow Chemical and flooded the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. The resulting public health crisis can be seen as a case study in how new unsanctioned psychoactive substances become legible to society through the efforts of different actors. STP was interpreted by young hip doctors, underground chemists, and the users themselves. While the first group achieved recognition as experts, the others were largely omitted from media reports on the drug. This article brings together contemporary media reports, pharmacology, and first-person accounts to explore how STP came to be understood as a dangerous drug. As psychedelics gain renewed attention, it is timely to use historic events like the STP crisis to understand how knowledge of new drugs is formed and what sources are recognized or overlooked in the process.