Once illegal & outlandish, psychedelics are making a comeback. Explore their history, risks, & potential.
Once the darling of flower children and the scourge of concerned parents, Psychedelics are now donning lab coats and strutting into the spotlight of the mainstream. In 2023, ONS suggested about 260,000 people (that is, 100,000 more than in 2020), aged between 16 and 59, took magic mushrooms. It seems these funky fungi are popping up in more places than your gran’s garden after a rainy spell.
So, what’s behind this remarkable metamorphosis? How did psychedelics go from counterculture poster child to potential medical marvel?
A History Steeped in Mystery
The use of psychedelics by humans has a long and fascinating history. Archaeological evidence suggests the use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in religious ceremonies dating back thousands of years. The Eleusinian Mysteries, a secretive religious cult in ancient Greece, are believed to have incorporated psychedelic experiences into their rituals. In Mesoamerica, indigenous cultures have used entheogens like peyote and ayahuasca for centuries in healing ceremonies and spiritual exploration.
The first documented Western encounter with psychedelics came in the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors witnessed Aztec rituals involving psilocybin mushrooms. However, a more structured exploration of these substances wouldn’t begin until the 19th century. In 1906, a German chemist named Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). His initial research focused on the drug’s potential medicinal applications, but it was Hofmann’s accidental ingestion of LSD in 1943 that truly ignited public interest in psychedelics.
One of the most significant figures in the early exploration of psychedelics was R. Gordon Wasson, an American investment banker turned ethnomycologist. Wasson, along with his wife Valentina, participated in a Mazatec mushroom ceremony in Mexico in 1955. His subsequent article in Life magazine, titled “Seeking the Magic Mushroom,” sparked a wave of interest in psychedelic experiences, particularly among intellectuals and artists. However, Wasson’s book project,which would have provided a detailed guide to identifying psilocybin mushrooms, was ultimately blocked by the US government, highlighting the growing tension between scientific inquiry and societal anxieties surrounding these substances.
Key Figures: From Counterculture to Science
The 1960s saw psychedelics become a cornerstone of the counterculture movement. Figures like Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later known as Ram Dass) popularized the use of LSD as a tool for self-exploration and spiritual awakening. Leary, a Harvard psychologist who had been conducting research on psilocybin and LSD, became a vocal advocate for psychedelic use, famously coining the phrase “turn on, tune in, drop out.”
In 1963, Leary and Alpert, after being fired from Harvard for their controversial research, found themselves on the East Coast with nowhere to go. Enter William Mellon Hitchcock, a wealthy socialite and heir to the Mellon fortune, who owned a sprawling 64-room mansion and estate in Millbrook, New York. Hitchcock, intrigued by the burgeoning psychedelic movement and friendly with Leary through his sister Peggy, rented a portion of the mansion – sometimes referred to as “Millbrook” or “Daheim,” its original name – to Leary and his associates.
Millbrook quickly transformed into a hub for psychedelic exploration. Artists, writers, musicians, and other figures interested in psychedelics flocked to the estate. Leary and Alpert, along with a loose collective of researchers and facilitators, conducted experiments with LSD on willing participants. These sessions often involved artistic endeavors,group discussions, and exploration of the surrounding natural landscape under the influence of the drug.
Millbrook became synonymous with the psychedelic movement, not just for the research conducted there but also for its bohemian atmosphere. Stories of wild parties fueled by LSD, artistic breakthroughs, and intense introspective experiences became part of the lore surrounding psychedelics. However, Leary’s advocacy often lacked scientific rigor, and his promotion of widespread, unsupervised psychedelic use fueled public concerns about safety and mental health risks. The growing association of psychedelics with the counterculture and the potential for misuse led to increased government regulation in the late 1960s. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified LSD and psilocybin as Schedule I drugs,effectively shutting down most scientific research on psychedelics for several decades.
The Dangers: A Balanced Approach
The risks associated with psychedelics should not be downplayed. While not physically addictive, they can produce intense and unpredictable psychological experiences. For individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions,psychedelic use can exacerbate symptoms like anxiety or psychosis. Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the US show that around 1 in 20 people who use LSD will experience a persistent negative psychological reaction known as HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder). This can manifest as visual disturbances,flashbacks, and anxiety.
Furthermore, the long-term effects of psychedelics are still not fully understood. It is crucial to approach these substances with caution and respect, and responsible use in controlled settings with proper support is paramount.
Are Psychedelics Legal in the UK?
Legally, psychedelics remain a tightly controlled class of drugs in the UK. Psilocybin, for example, is a Schedule 1 substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, meaning it has no recognised medical use and possession carries a potential penalty of up to seven years in prison. However, a recent debate in the House of Commons regarding “psilocybin access rights” highlights a growing movement advocating for research and potential therapeutic applications. Organizations like the Beckley Foundation, a UK-based non-profit dedicated to research on psychedelics and consciousness, are playing a key role in this discourse. Early-stage clinical trials are exploring the potential of psilocybin and MDMA (ecstasy) for treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and addiction. However, obtaining funding and navigating the legal hurdles remain significant challenges.