History of Psychedelics: An Overview
South Atlantic Quarterly April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1215/00382876-11626609 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that the war on drugs fundamentally altered the understanding and characterization of psychedelic substances and their users. |
Abstract
This article offers an overview of the history of substances, plants, and fungi later classified as psychedelic. Drawing from archeological, anthropological, botanical, and clinical claims about the risks and benefits of psychedelics, this historical survey emphasizes diverse attempts to make sense of these mind-altering experiences. It tracks early efforts to harness the properties of psychedelic substances in ceremonial and clinical settings, before the war on drugs in the latter part of the twentieth century changed the script on psychedelic explorations and the characterization of those who sought out these non-ordinary states.