Fear and Loathing in the United Nations: The Establishment of International Control of Psychedelics Through the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Contemporary Drug Problems March 7, 2026 Måns Bergkvist, Damon Barrett, Johan Edman et al. 1 citation
This article explores the processes that led to the inclusion of psychedelics under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, a cornerstone of international drug control. Drawing on archival records, we analyze the narratives and dynamics that shaped this decision. Despite limited scientific evidence of public health dangers, concerns about psychedelics were amplified by sensationalized...