Utopiates

by Blum,Richard

• ISBN13: 9780202363240
• ISBN10: 0202363244
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-08-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

LSD belongs to the class of drugs that, taken orally, canproduce dramatic psychological experiences. There appearsto be a wide range of response to LSD. Commonly there arereports of sensory changes, extreme variations in strongemotions, new perspectives about oneself, changed viewsof-and feelings toward-other people, changes from priorchronic situations, shifts in interest, and new integrative experienceswhich may be delusional or mystically religious.The contributors to this volume, which was first publishedin 1965, accent the culture that embraces LSD. Theymarshal evidence that the effects of any drug tend to bein keeping with the values of the culture or subculture inwhich it is used, or if the user’s wish is to express rebellionor dissidence, the effect will stand in opposition toprevailing values. The same substance has different effectsin different cultures; and the same effects may be achievedwith different substances. In the past, alcohol was hailed inmuch the same way as LSD. There was even a time whencoffee was brought under the same kind of proscriptionthat today holds for opiates.Such conflicts in values and morals continue with a newgeneration of drugs, which makes this volume especiallyrelevant. What could be done was an open issue at the timethis book was first published. The contributors encouragecitizens, scientists, physicians, mystics, ministers, lawmakersand lawmen, drug users and abstainers, to learn andto think more about the phenomena of drug use and todevelop plans for social action. This volume stresses theneed to develop a policy regarding the handling of classesof drugs and drug users. Although LSD has fallen in favoras a drug of choice for those interested in experimentation,the issues raised in this volume remain with us.