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This clip comes from a television documentary made in the summer of 1967 in San Francisco. It was the Summer Of Love and LSD was being widely used by young people who considered themselves part of the counterculture movement in places like the Haight-Ashbury district. This teenager was put in a mental institution by his mother to stop his use of LSD - what she felt was destroying his mind. It was interesting to me to hear two worldviews about LSD and the resulting perceptions - his and hers.
The approach at that time to treating individuals who had bad trips or adverse reactions to psychedelic drugs like LSD varied depending on the severity of the symptoms, the individual's overall mental health, and the prevailing practices of the institution or hospital. In the 1960s the medical community had developed several methods to address acute and chronic reactions to psychedelics.
Talking down: This was a common practice, especially in the immediate aftermath of a bad trip. Health professionals would try to reassure the individual, offering a calm and supportive environment to help the person return to a more grounded state.
Medication: Benzodiazepines (like Valium or Ativan) might be administered to reduce anxiety and agitation. In cases of severe psychosis, antipsychotic medications (like Thorazine) might be used.
Psychotherapy: This was a primary mode of treatment. Therapists would work with the individual to help them process their experience, address any underlying psychological issues, and provide coping mechanisms.
Group Therapy: Group settings could be beneficial for some individuals to share their experiences and feelings with others who had similar experiences. It offered a platform for mutual understanding and support.
Medication: For those who exhibited ongoing symptoms of psychosis, depression, or other mental health disorders, appropriate psychiatric medications might be prescribed.
Education: Teaching patients about the effects and potential dangers of drug use, including the risk of recurrent hallucinogenic persisting perception disorder (often referred to as "flashbacks").
These are some of the conditions doctors looked for when their emergency departments and sent an LSD user into the hospital for further examination:
Dilated pupils: One of the common physical symptoms of LSD use.
Increased heart rate and blood pressure: This could sometimes lead to palpitations or feelings of anxiety in the user.
Tremors: Some users would exhibit tremulousness or shakiness.
Nausea: Though more commonly associated with other psychedelics, some LSD users could feel nauseous.
Increased body temperature: Some individuals reported feeling either very hot or very cold.
Sweating or chills: These are common responses to the altered state brought about by LSD.
Mental/Psychological Effects:
Hallucinations: Visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations are common with LSD.
Depersonalization: This is a feeling of being detached from oneself.
Derealization: This is a feeling that the world is strange or unreal.
Paranoia: Some users felt extremely paranoid or believed that they were being persecuted.
Panic attacks or extreme anxiety: These were among the reasons why individuals might be brought to hospitals.
Flashbacks: Some individuals experienced spontaneous, recurring episodes where they would re-experience the sensations or hallucinations from their trip.
Aggravation of underlying mental health issues: Those with predispositions to conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder could potentially have their symptoms exacerbated by LSD use.
Bad trips: A negative, frightening, or overwhelming experience while on LSD. This could involve intense anxiety, fear, paranoia, or even terrifying hallucinations.
Research into the long-term effects of LSD has been ongoing, and the consensus is that while LSD is non-addictive and has a relatively low toxicity profile, its powerful psychoactive effects can lead to dangerous situations or exacerbate mental health conditions in predisposed individuals.
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Thank you
David Hoffman filmmaker