History of Psychedelic Use

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBefore Albert HofmannThe 1950s and 1960sThe 1970s and 1980sUse of Psychedelics TodaySummary

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Before Albert Hofmann

The 1950s and 1960s

The 1970s and 1980s

Use of Psychedelics Today

Summary

Psychedelics belong to a class of drugs known as hallucinogenics.Hallucinogensare drugs capable of altering your sense of reality. They can warp your sense of taste, smell, sight, and even time. The modern era of psychedelic use can be traced back to Albert Hofmann, a scientist and researcher who first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, in 1938. Five years later, in 1943, he became the first person to try LSD.

Since this landmark discovery, the use of LSD and other psychedelics has had a long and complicated history. There seem to be polarizing opinions on thebenefitsand pitfalls of these drugs. On one end of the spectrum are people who think psychedelic drugs might hold the key to treating conditions like depression andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On the other end of the spectrum are people who think the dangers of using psychedelics far outweigh any benefits they might pose.

This article looks at psychedelics' fascinating history since Albert Hofmann first tried LSD in 1943.

Albert Hofmann’s research signified a breakthrough in thescientific use of psychedelicswith thediscovery of LSD. However, the use of psychedelics for its purported medical and spiritual benefits long preceded him. In ancient Aztec culture, people took psychedelics in the form of psilocybin mushrooms known as Teonanácatl.

They did this in religious ceremonies to alter their minds and communicate with their gods. In South American culture, psychedelic use has historically been encouraged with the help of a shaman whose role is to guide you through the psychedelic experience.

What Does a Trip Sitter Do?

Research into the use of psychedelics was at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, right after the discovery of LSD. Scientists and researchers were curious about the supposedly wondrous drug. Ten years after Albert Hofmann tried LSD, in 1953, a psychiatrist called Humphrey Osmond began prescribing LSD to people diagnosed with alcoholism (now known asalcohol use disorderor AUD). He triggered the use of psychedelics for treating AUD among a crop of psychiatrists well into the 1960s.

In that era, scientists believed that the experience of psychedelic therapy could catalyze a rapid and deep change in a person’s relationship to their symptoms, value system, and sense of self. Some estimates reveal that psychedelics may have been administered to as many as 40,000 people with varyingmental health conditionsbetween 1950 and 1965.

Government intervention into psychedelics in this era brought research into the drug to a near halt. Although the research carried out in the ’50s and ’60s revealed that serious adverse effects were relatively rare and some positive results were observed, issued bans, and restrictions.

LSD had become widely available for recreational use, and people feared its potential for abuse. The government also argued that it was an experimental drug with unknown pitfalls. In 1970, the United States Congress passed an act that classified LSD as a schedule one drug.

Schedule I drugs are drugs determined to have the highest potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use; other examples are heroin andecstasy(MDMA).Of note, marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug on a federal level, although legal for recreational use in many states.

What Are Psychedelic Drugs?

Clinical trials have assessed the benefits of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic stimulant and psychedelic, intreating depressionand PTSD. There’s also research into theuse of psilocybin (mushrooms) for treating major depressive disorder, addictions, and end-of-life mood disorders.

Some argue that the restrictions that remain in place on the drug’s use are hampering research. In contrast, others say that its essential to ensure the safe exploration of the drug’s potential benefits. The ’50s and ’60s may still be seen as the peak of psychedelic research. However, there’s increasing research progress into these drug. In March 2019, theFood and Drug Administration (FDA) approved using ketamine, an anesthetic agent with some psychedelic properties, to treat depression.

Also, a phase 3 clinical trial into the use of MDMA to treat severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was completed in 2022. These phase 3 trials are believed to be a step away from approval for prescription use.

As Evidence For Treatment Potential Grows, So Has Psychedelic Legality

There remains a lot we don’t know abouthow psychedelics workas well as their potential benefits and risks. Taking these agents unsupervised can result in severe and sometimes fatal side effects. As research into these drugs progresses, scientists believe that psychedelics may become a medical mainstay for treating several medical conditions.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dyck E.LSD: a new treatment emerging from the past.CMAJ. 2015;187(14):1079-1080.Carod-Artal FJ.Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.Neurología. 2015;30(1):42-49.Petranker R, Anderson T, Farb N.Psychedelic research and the need for transparency: polishing alice’s looking glass.Front Psychol. 2020;11:1681.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug Scheduling.Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113.Matveychuk D, Thomas RK, Swainson J, et al.Ketamine as an antidepressant: overview of its mechanisms of action and potential predictive biomarkers.Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2020;10:204512532091665.Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dyck E.LSD: a new treatment emerging from the past.CMAJ. 2015;187(14):1079-1080.Carod-Artal FJ.Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.Neurología. 2015;30(1):42-49.Petranker R, Anderson T, Farb N.Psychedelic research and the need for transparency: polishing alice’s looking glass.Front Psychol. 2020;11:1681.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug Scheduling.Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113.Matveychuk D, Thomas RK, Swainson J, et al.Ketamine as an antidepressant: overview of its mechanisms of action and potential predictive biomarkers.Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2020;10:204512532091665.Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033.

Dyck E.LSD: a new treatment emerging from the past.CMAJ. 2015;187(14):1079-1080.Carod-Artal FJ.Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.Neurología. 2015;30(1):42-49.Petranker R, Anderson T, Farb N.Psychedelic research and the need for transparency: polishing alice’s looking glass.Front Psychol. 2020;11:1681.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug Scheduling.Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113.Matveychuk D, Thomas RK, Swainson J, et al.Ketamine as an antidepressant: overview of its mechanisms of action and potential predictive biomarkers.Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2020;10:204512532091665.Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033.

Dyck E.LSD: a new treatment emerging from the past.CMAJ. 2015;187(14):1079-1080.

Petranker R, Anderson T, Farb N.Psychedelic research and the need for transparency: polishing alice’s looking glass.Front Psychol. 2020;11:1681.

United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug Scheduling.

Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113.

Matveychuk D, Thomas RK, Swainson J, et al.Ketamine as an antidepressant: overview of its mechanisms of action and potential predictive biomarkers.Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2020;10:204512532091665.

Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al.MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.Nat Med. 2021;27(6):1025-1033.

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