Learning about STP
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals October 1, 2023 DOI: 10.3368/hopp.65.1.93 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Process computing Media studies Public relations Visual arts Criminology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that during the 1967 STP crisis, young hip doctors achieved recognition as experts while underground chemists and users were largely omitted from media reports, shaping how the drug came to be understood as dangerous. |
Abstract
Abstract In 1967, a synthetic psychedelic drug, nicknamed STP, escaped from the archives of Dow Chemical and flooded the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. The resulting public health crisis can be seen as a case study in how new unsanctioned psychoactive substances become legible to society through the efforts of different actors. STP was interpreted by young hip doctors, underground chemists, and the users themselves. While the first group achieved recognition as experts, the others were largely omitted from media reports on the drug. This article brings together contemporary media reports, pharmacology, and first-person accounts to explore how STP came to be understood as a dangerous drug. As psychedelics gain renewed attention, it is timely to use historic events like the STP crisis to understand how knowledge of new drugs is formed and what sources are recognized or overlooked in the process.