A Review of the Research and Theological Implications of the Use of Psychedelic Drugs with Terminal Cancer Patients
Journal of Drug Issues July 1, 1977 DOI: 10.1177/002204267700700308 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Terminal cancer patients |
| Keywords | Scrutiny Terminal cancer Psychoanalysis Criminology Theology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Controlled experimentation with psychedelic drugs such as LSD should be continued and expanded, subjected to careful scientific, ethical, and theological scrutiny. |
Abstract
This article reviews the major research studies on the use of psychedelic drugs with terminal cancer patients. Present-day research is concentrated at the Maryland Psychiatric Center, where many of the early pilot studies were conducted. The conclusions of researchers such as Eric Kast, Sidney Cohen, Walter Pahnke, William Richards, and Albert Kurland indicate that controlled experimentation with such drugs as LSD should be continued and expanded, subjected to careful scientific, ethical, and theological scrutiny. The significant theological implications of this research, especially those suggested by Gordon D. Kaufman, are briefly examined.