One fateful day in 1943, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann pulled out an old ergot compound he'd been ignoring for a decade, and accidentally got a drop of it on his hand. He soon experienced humanity's first ever Acid Trip.
Over the next 20 years, scientists, governments and militaries experimented to learn just what Lysergic Acid Diethylamide could be used for. The results? Astoundingly positive for therapeutic results, from decreasing anxiety to helping addicts go sober.
Then came Timothy Leary, hippies, and the political upheaval of the 1960's.
Today on Get Shocked: The history of LSD.
RESOURCES
US Military Video of Soldiers on LSD – MK Ultra
Full Dragnet Episode: The Big Prophet
1957 Broadcast interviewing a housewife who takes LSD on camera.
Recording of John Lilly (high on LSD) spending time with Peter the Dolphin (high on LSD) to test the drug’s impact on communication.