Acid Test

June 9, 2014
In this psychedelic patchwork of narratives, journalist Shroder (Old Souls) explores the therapeutic possibilities of LSD and Ecstasy (MDMA), and,more broadly,the potential of the human mind. Known as recreational drugs, LSD and MDMA have been proven to treat PTSD and similar anxiety disorders effectively. While Shroder provides scientific support for his arguments, stories trump studies in his descriptions of the prevalence, advantages, and—perhaps most significantly—vivid experiences of drug use. Guided by Shroder’s easy narrative tone, readers follow an activist, a marine, and a physician-turned-psychiatrist who developed a philosophy of psychedelic therapy through self-experimentation. Their lives intertwine across an evolving political and cultural climate, as the initial popularity of psychedelics was replaced with widespread backlash and controversy. Although Schroder’s story is largely Western, he takes readers all over the world, from the Swiss birthplace of LSD to Iraq, where he relates a soldier’s experience with the drug . Readers also learn how popular opinion against psychedelics emerged from misinformation and how this public bias threatens the reception of Shroder’s larger message. The debates surrounding the legalization of other currently illicit substances, however, add significance to this brief in favor of psychedelics. Shroder both informs readers about the drugs’ shadowy pasts and provides insight into the future of mental health. Agent: Gail Ross, Ross Yoon Agency.

July 1, 2014
A well-respected journalist offers evidence, both empirical and anecdotal, about the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs.The late comedian Bill Hicks, prone to taking what psychedelic bard Terence McKenna called "heroic doses" of mushrooms, used to refer to the use of drugs as "squeegeeing open your third eye." In this cleareyed account, former Washington Post Magazine editor Shroder (Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence For Past Lives, 1999, etc.) explores both the complex history of the issue and the current thinking on the use of LSD, Ecstasy and other psychotropic substances for healing troubled minds. Thankfully, the author only briefly touches on the usual tropes-there's a thoughtful chapter on Aldous Huxley's introduction to LSD, after which he wrote, "To fathom Hell or soar angelic, Just take a pinch of psychedelic"-but Shroder skims over old stories about Ken Kesey, Owsley Stanley and Timothy Leary that have plagued authentic researchers for years. Instead, the author tells his complex story via three men: Rick Doblin, the founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies; Michael Mithoefer, a former emergency room doctor whose interest in exploring his own mind led him to become a trauma psychologist; and Nick Blackston, a U.S. Marine whose war experiences are characteristic of the waves of soldiers returning from war with catastrophic PTSD. Occasionally, the stories are amusing: At one point, Doblin was being considered for an internship at the Food and Drug Administration. Upon being turned down, he thought, "Now I can still smoke pot and don't have to wear a suit." More often, they're moving-e.g., Mithoefer's assistance with a variety of patients, many of whom spoke on the record about their experiences, to discover what the doctor calls "inner healing intelligence." Add to these stories a perceptive criticism of the failings of America's war on drugs, and Shroder delivers an important historical perspective on a highly controversial issue in modern medicine.An observant argument for understanding a society through the drugs it uses.

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Starred review from August 1, 2014
In the 1960s, LSD was hyped and feared. Tripping on acid was dangerously unpredictable. In 1970, the psychedelic drug group including LSD was designated Schedule I (the most restrictive class of controlled substances), the same as heroin. Here journalist Shroder filters the psychedelic world. He explores the use and abuse of these drugs. He examines the motivations and personalities of those who investigate, advocate for, and consume these kinds of psychoactive chemicals. Shroder presents a compelling case for supporting responsible, rigorous research of psychedelic compounds. Although he discusses LSD, mescaline, ibogaine, and psilocybin, it is MDMA (Ecstasy) that garners special attention. That substance shows effectiveness (even after treatment with a single dose) and safety in treating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but larger studies are necessary. Shroder shares three very different stories about MDMA: a young veteran of the Iraq War suffering from severe PTSD, a compassionate psychiatrist-researcher, and the flamboyant leader of a movement to switch the drug to Schedule III status (which allows prescription by a doctor and permits clinical research). Empty your mind of any preconceptions about psychedelic drugs and enjoy a fascinating trip through the politics, science, history, and promise of these controversial chemical compounds.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)