Reports of Wives of Alcoholics of Effects of LSD-25 Treatment of Their Husbands

Treatment of alcoholics with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) and similar psychedelic substances has been practiced for over a decade, yet controversy persists about its effectiveness. Reported outcomes range from no change to very encouraging, with immediate improvements in attitudes and behavior often disappearing over the long term. This paper aims to clarify differences between immediate and long-term changes in alcoholics following LSD-25 treatment and suggests ways to better consolidate early gains. Previous information on LSD treatment results has come from studies of the treated individuals themselves.

Study at a glance

Abstract

THOUGH ALCOHOLICS have been treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) and similar psychodelic substances now for over a decade and many papers have reported the results of such treatment,1-15considerable controversy remains as to what can be accomplished by these means. The results reported have varied from no change to very encouraging; moreover, while investigators have frequently reported immediate and remarkable improvement in attitudes and behavior, it has also been noted that in the long run such gains have all too often disappeared. In the present paper we hope to throw some light on the problem of differences in immediate and long-run changes in alcoholics as a result of LSD-25 treatment, and also to suggest how, in some cases, early gains might be better consolidated. In general, information about the results of LSD treatment has been derived from studies of the treated persons themselves. We