MDA, MDMA, and other “mescaline‐like” substances in the US military's search for a truth drug (1940s to 1960s)

Passie, Torsten; Benzenhöfer, Udo

doi:10.1002/dta.2292

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These risks are further amplified by the fact that incarcerated populations are largely Hispanic and Black, as minority populations have historically been subject to mistreatment and abuse within medical research (Brandt, 1978). Coercive experimentation on the incarcerated can have can have deleterious effects (Brecht et al, 2005), and there is a history of state agencies inappropriately and coercively testing psychedelic compounds to manipulate behavior (Passie and Benzenhöfer, 2018; Savage, 1952). Therefore, rigorous ethical frameworks are essential when seeking to further explore the link between psychedelics and crime.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension

Jones

Nock

2022

J Psychopharmacol

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Background: The United States boasts the largest prison population in the world, conferring significant direct and indirect costs (e.g. lost wages for the incarcerated, increased morbidity/mortality, etc.) to society. Recidivism rates are high for the imprisoned and most interventions to reduce criminality are minimally effective. Thus, in addition to the need for criminal justice reform, there is a need to better understand factors linked to lowered criminal behavior. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between the use of classic psychedelic substances (psilocybin, LSD, peyote, and mescaline) and past year arrests for various crimes (i.e. property, violence, alcohol and substance use, miscellaneous crimes). Methods: This study used nationally representative data from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2015–2019) ( N = 211,549) to test the aforementioned associations. Results: Lifetime psilocybin use was associated with lowered odds of seven of 11 past year arrest variables (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) range = 0.30–0.73). Peyote was associated with reduced odds of motor vehicle theft (aOR = 0.30) and driving under the influence (aOR = 0.52), and mescaline was associated with reduced odds of drug possession/sale (aOR = 0.51). Virtually all other substances either shared no relationship to our outcomes or conferred higher odds of arrest. Conclusion: This study suggests that use of classic psychedelic substances is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests. Future research should explore whether causal factors and/or third variable factors (e.g. personality, political orientation) underlie the relationship between classic psychedelic use and reduced criminal behavior.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension

Jones

Nock

2022

J Psychopharmacol

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“…In 1952, a patient named Harold Blauer was administered several compounds over the course of a month before succumbing to a fatal dose of MDA (450 mg). 258 Realizing that safety data on these compounds were woefully lacking, the military contracted a group at the University of Michigan to conduct pharmacokinetic and safety studies in mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and monkeys. 259 After declassification, these data were published in 1973 and revealed that the methylenedioxy compounds were more toxic than their methoxy counterparts.…”

Section: History and Importance In Neurosciencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on MDMA appeared to stagnate until the 1950s. At that time the US military began using mescaline-like compounds, including MDMA, as part of pharmacologically assisted interrogation programs . In essence, they were trying to identify so-called “truth drugs”compounds capable of lowering inhibitions making people more likely to reveal secret information.…”

Section: History and Importance In Neurosciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

Dunlap

Andrews

Olson

2018

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

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Better known as “ecstasy,” 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a small molecule that has played a prominent role in defining the ethos of today’s teenagers and young adults, much like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) did in the 1960s. Though MDMA possesses structural similarities to compounds like amphetamine and mescaline, it produces subjective effects that are unlike any of the classical psychostimulants or hallucinogens and is one of the few compounds capable of reliably producing prosocial behavioral states. As a result, MDMA has captured the attention of recreational users, the media, artists, psychiatrists, and neuropharmacologists alike. Here, we detail the synthesis of MDMA as well as its pharmacology, metabolism, adverse effects, and potential use in medicine. Finally, we discuss its history and why it is perhaps the most important compound for the future of psychedelic science—having the potential to either facilitate new psychedelic research initiatives, or to usher in a second Dark Age for the field.

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“…MDMA is a synthetic drug which belongs to the substance class of amphetamines and is structurally similar to the psychedelic hallucinogen mescaline (18). Dual use of MDMA and cannabis is especially prevalent in 15-16 year old adolescents, with 8-13% of whom report having used both substances within the past month (19).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms in Adolescents With Chronic Cannabis and MDMA Use

et al. 2022

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ObjectivesBoth substance use, on the one hand, and the first signs of psychosis, on the other, commonly begin in adolescence. Adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD) frequently show recreational use of cannabis and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). When attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) occur during the course of SUD, they are commonly attributed to the cannabis use, neglecting the role of other substances abused, such as MDMA in the risk of psychosis.MethodsWe analyzed retrospective self-reports on APS (Prodromal Questionnaire, PQ-16) and amount of cannabis and MDMA use in n = 46 adolescent psychiatry outpatients with SUD. N = 17 (35%) individuals reported MDMA consume additional to cannabis. Furthermore, we examined the associations of APS with cannabis and MDMA use in stepwise hierarchical regressions while controlling for trauma history, birth complications and gender.ResultsAPS were not related to cannabis (B = 0.04, p = 0.842), but to MDMA use (B = 4.88, p = 0.001) and trauma history (B = 0.72, p = 0.001). Gender (B = −0.22, p = 0.767) and birth complications (B = −0.68, p = 0.178) were not associated with APS.DiscussionOur results indicate that MDMA use additional to cannabis use is associated with APS among adolescent SUD patients. Contrary to our expectations, we did not see an association of cannabis use and APS. We speculate that cannabis increases the risk for psychosis after a longer period of use and in combination with other risk factors, such as trauma history. Clinicians should screen for APS among SUD patients using MDMA and cannabis in order to adapt treatment plans of SUDs. Future research should validate these findings in longitudinal studies including polysubstance use and trauma history.

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MDA, MDMA, and other “mescaline‐like” substances in the US military's search for a truth drug (1940s to 1960s)

Abstract: This article describes the context in which 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and other mescaline-like compounds were explored as hallucinogens for military and intelligence purposes from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Cited by 20 publications

References 16 publications

Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension

Psilocybin use is associated with lowered odds of crime arrests in US adults: A replication and extension

Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms in Adolescents With Chronic Cannabis and MDMA Use

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