Research abuses against people of colour and other vulnerable groups in early psychedelic research
Journal of Medical Ethics July 12, 2021 Dana Strauss, Sara de la Salle, Jordan Sloshower et al. 70 citations
Early US psychedelic research (1950-1980) exploited people of colour and other vulnerable groups, including incarcerated individuals and inpatients with psychotic disorders. A review of empirical publications from that era, assessed against current ethical standards, reveals that participants were often administered drugs without proper informed consent and under conditions of undue influence. The Central Intelligence Agency covertly funded some of this work. These historical abuses demand that contemporary psychedelic researchers adopt culturally inclusive and socially responsible methods to avoid repeating past harms.