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This enthusiasm for LSD was embraced by numerous medical researchers, patients, and physicians. In 1967 a major publisher of paperback books, Award Books, issued LSD The Problem-Solving Psychedelic. Leading researchers contributed to the book, including:
1). Preface by Dr. Humphry Osmond, Director, Bureau of Research
in Neurology and Psychiatry, New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute, Princeton
2). Introduction by Dr. Duncan Blewett, Chairman, Department
of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus.
3). Afterward by Stanley Krippner, Director, Dream Laboratory, Maimonides Medical
Center.
Medical textbook
Three leading medical researchers wrote a medical textbook on hallucinogens, and it is published
by one of the leading academic presses. The Halluconogens, A Hoffer, H. Osmond, & T Weckowicz, Academic Press, 1967, San Francisco.
A. Hoffer, Department
of Public Psychiatric Research, University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
H. Osmond, Neuropsychiatric
Institut Princeton, New Jersey
T. Weckowicz,
Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
MEDICAL USES OF LSD
1). On
Schizophrenic Patients (see The Hallucinogens, pgs 139-148), Very positive results.
2). In
Psychotherapy (Ibid. 148-205)
3). Alcoholism
(Ibid. 153-196). Cure rate of over 50%, significantly higher than any other treatment
MYTHS
1.
That LSD causes chromosome breakage.
The results were published by Sidney Cohen, an anti-drug research and later bureaucrat for the NIMH. He published around 1970 a study of fewer than 10 LSD users and found that their rate of chromosome breakage
was greater than that of the control group. A reading of the study revealed that
he didn’t control for factors in the user group that cause breakage, while he did for the control group. His results, without comments on the defects in his study, were disseminated through our free press.
2.
As a result of this “research”, women who were considering
having a child were advised not to take LSD. However, the only large retrospect
study of mothers found the rate of birth defects and spontaneous abortions fell within the norm (I have a copy of that study). Moreover, there were not repetitive, birth defects.
Substances that cause birth defects generally cause a specific type.
3.
That there are flashback caused by LSD. The original research again around
1970 consisted of a series of questions asked of LSD users. One of the questions: “Did you ever experience a feeling following the usage that resembled being
on LSD?” Several of them replied, “Yes.” Possible they considered vertigo as “resemble” like on LSD.
The press picked up the results and published, “LSD causes flash-backs.”
4.
That there is no valid medical usage for LSD. This statement is true only because there is no legal way for a physician to legally obtain this drug for
a patient—and it is in practice impossible to obtain for research. There
were up until April of 1966 extensive medical research done that validated several medical uses. Then our government cut off its supply for research and clinical usage by taking over its distribution
in April of 1966 from Sandoz Laboratory, its manufacturer.
- That the drug can cause prolonged psychotic experience. LSD
has been extensively tested upon the psychotic (mainly schizophrenic) including those in psychiatric institutes and those
who were “pseudoneurotic schizophrenics” (The Hallucinogens, 143-145).
A worsening of the patients condition was well below than what would have occurred spontaneously without LSD. For example of the over 5,000 doses administered to patient in a mental institute
in Saskatchewan, and there was only one prolonged (1 week) episode.
- That there is significant addiction potential. There isn’t because LSD tolerance is so great that a period of a week is need before the same
dosage can be fully effective. On the following day, the same dosage will not
produce be effective.
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