Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered

Before the Pharmacotheon came along, Grinspoon and Bakalar's seminal text was probably the most authoritative reference work on visionary drugs in existence. After too long a period out of print, it has been republished by the Lindesmith Center, the first in a series of reprints of classic works on drug policy. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating future titles issued under this imprint.

After nearly 20 years, Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered remains a valuable contribution to the literature on entheogenic drugs. It is complemented, not overshadowed, by more recent works by Ott and others. This is due largely to the careful and thorough job done by its authors on the original, 1979 edition. It is also due, unfortunately, to a repressive legal climate that has prevented a great deal of valuable research from being pursued during the intervening years: After so long, a work like this should be in need of revision. That it is not is truly a sad commentary on the current state of U.S. drug policy. In any case, the only significant omission is MDMA, which became of interest only after publication of the original edition.

Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered offers good coverage of all the main areas of interest in the field of entheogenic drugs, organized by subject matter rather than by drug. The sections on history especially benefit from unified coverage and an overall perspective that the Pharmacotheon, for example, cannot offer with its emphasis on families of compounds. The most valuable aspect of Grinspoon's and Bakalar's work, however, is the emphasis on the medical and psychiatric aspects of drug use, as befits their professional training. The authors offer a broad, well-selected survey of the entheogenic drug literature as it relates to such diverse topics as subjective effects, treatment of alcoholism, therapy for the dying, and mystical experiences, all approached from a critical but compassionate scientific perspective. And unlike some who would minimize or disregard potential adverse effects -- something no less dangerous than those who would equate use with abuse -- Grinspoon and Bakalar devote an entire, excellent chapter to the subject.

So far, this work has aged very well and is one I can highly recommend as a reference text. I can only hope that one day it will merit a thorough revision and a substantial increase in size. For now, its excellent psychiatric perspective is something no student of entheogenic drugs should ignore.

Contents

Preface to the 1997 Edition
Authors' Preface to the Original Edition
Acknowledgments
Introduction to the 1997 Edition
Introduction to the Original Edition

1. The Major Psychedelic Drugs: Sources and Effects
2. Psychedelic Plants in Preindustrial Society
3. Psychedelic Drugs in the Twentieth Century
4. The Nature of the Psychedelic Experience
5. Adverse Effects and Their Treatment
6. Therapeutic Uses
7. Psychedelic Drugs and the Human Mind
8. The Future of Psychedelic Drug Use and Research
   Appendix: The Legal Status of Psychedelic Drugs
   Bibliography to the 1997 Authors' Introduction
   Bibliography
   Annotated Bibliography
   Index