The United States Print Media and its War on Psychedelic Research in the 1960s

Authors

Jessica M. Bracco, Buffalo State CollegeFollow

Abstract

The social climate of the 1960s denied the possible usefulness of psychedelics as drugs that could be considered therapeutic. The government attacked the research of psychedelics by demanding a stricter proof of efficacy, with the 1962 Kefauver Harris Amendments to FDA regulations, in order to conduct research on these drugs. Also, the government moved to classify these drugs as "Dangerous Drugs" making it a felony to manufacture, sell, possess, or consume these class of drugs. Furthermore, propaganda was spread to the American people, via the print media, claiming the proclivity of the drug for recreational use and the dangers this posed. Other historians have cited the FDA's role in virtually shutting down research related to psychedelics for psychotherapy. This aim, according to other researchers, was furthered by the CIA wanting sole access to psychedelic research. As a result, many researchers were discredited by the government. Significantly, there was the social angle into psychedelics that believed that any research was merely a form of counterculture and an excuse to take the drug and spread its use. I will demonstrate how the media's portrayal of psychedelics made it possible for the government to introduce laws and regulations which essentially shut down any attempts to use psychedelics in psychotherapy treatments.

Recommended Citation

Bracco, Jessica M. (2019) "The United States Print Media and its War on Psychedelic Research in the 1960s," The Exposition: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/exposition/vol5/iss1/2