Why abandoning psychedelic research in the 1970s was a blow to science

In the 1950s, luminaries such as Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, and Graham Greene envisioned a gathering called “Outsight,” intended for the exploration of psychedelics. Ultimately, this vision shifted dramatically, leading me to ponder the intriguing possibilities of such an event.

My journey into the realm of psychedelics began through my work on The Trip, a new BBC Radio 4 series. Previously, I had explored the unsettling hallucinations I experienced during a coma from COVID-19. Despite my hesitance to revisit such vivid experiences, I sought to comprehend why so many individuals actively pursue psychedelic experiences, often venturing to places with more lenient regulations or risking legal repercussions at home to find healing or satisfaction of unmet desires.

The widespread prohibition of psychedelics wasn’t an inevitable outcome. Historically, researchers like Humphry Davy, who explored nitrous oxide’s effects in 1799, and Humphry Osmond, who coined the term “psychedelic” in the 1950s, recognized the importance of meticulous, interdisciplinary study of chemically induced altered states.

Prior to the inception of the US-led war on drugs in the 1970s, there existed a robust body of research highlighting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, alongside a rich history of their use in sacred rituals by Indigenous cultures. Rather than allowing science to explore these avenues, the entire sector was relegated to the shadows. This history cultivates a perception that these substances, whether from nature or synthetic labs, are inherently foreign or othered, an impression I found both compelling and haunting.

Currently, psychedelic research is experiencing a renaissance worldwide, focusing on the potential of these substances to assist in treating conditions such as depression, addiction, PTSD, eating disorders, dementia, and intergenerational trauma. Researchers are also investigating their potential in extending the window for stroke recovery, offering prolonged opportunities for healing, as well as insights into the nature of consciousness itself.

Discussions with modern researchers reveal findings vastly different from the psychedelic narratives prevalent in popular culture. These compounds can impart profound and lasting effects on consciousness and perception. It feels almost surreal that we collectively decided to sever such significant lines of inquiry and stifled our brightest minds from fully exploring the potential pathways available to them.

As I engaged with researchers, I couldn’t shake the pervasive “what if?” On reflection, amidst a global mental health crisis, the need for innovative treatment options has never been more pronounced. With public funding dwindling and facing threats in numerous regions, the private sector – driven by profit motives – is increasingly interested, raising questions about the accessibility of emerging therapies. Change is upon us, and rapidly.

Taking a clear-eyed look at humanity’s relationship with psychedelics reveals a painful story of self-inflicted challenges. The funding for Outsight never materialized, leading to the emergence of a vastly different era. The war on drugs effectively halted decades of research into an entire class of substances, casting a long shadow that still affects us today.

This narrative serves as a cautionary tale: we must not allow politics to stymie scientific exploration. Today’s landscape demands urgency; it is, in fact, a moral imperative to cultivate and safeguard an environment where science can flourish. The stakes are too high to ignore.