Fear and Loathing in the United Nations: The Establishment of International Control of Psychedelics Through the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Måns Bergkvist, Damon Barrett, Johan Edman, Bjorn Helge Johnson
Contemporary Drug Problems March 7, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/00914509261429506 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Convention Framing construction Drug control Cornerstone Public health Context archaeology Law Criminology Narrative |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the 1971 international scheduling of psychedelics was shaped by sensationalized media narratives and Cold War geopolitics rather than robust scientific evidence of harm. |
Abstract
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 media focused on their perceived risks, including dependency potential and associations with youth counterculture. The Cold War context influenced international consensus, with Eastern Bloc nations framing drug issues as Western societal failures while Western nations emphasized drug control as a public health priority. While tobacco, alcohol, sedatives, and stimulants benefited from cultural, political, and economic advocacy, psychedelics had no such support, which facilitated their stricter regulation. However, the United States played a pivotal role in preserving allowances for psychedelic research and the use of psychedelic plants, counterbalancing proposals from France and the USSR for more restrictive measures. Building on previous studies in global drug diplomacy, the article underscores the interplay of ideological, cultural, political, and institutional factors in shaping international drug policy.