The Promise and Demise of LSD Psychotherapy in Norway
Social History of Medicine May 28, 2021 Per Haave, Willy Pedersen 7 citations
In the early-to-mid 1960s, LSD was widely used in psychotherapy in several countries, but its use declined. Two explanations are examined using the Norwegian case: a 'moral panic' triggered by youth subcultures adopting cannabis and LSD, and a lack of proof for therapeutic efficacy as double-blind trials became the standard. Both factors contributed. Even before illegal drug use emerged in youth groups, key figures in Norwegian healthcare grew skeptical due to insufficient evidence of therapeutic benefit. This skepticism intensified when youth subcultures appeared in the mid-1960s and the 'war on drugs' reshaped drug policy.