'Trip' for your health

Those who read "Psychedelic Pharmacology" may be interested to learn that Dr. Erika Dyck, a medical professor at the University of Alberta, is trumpeting the benefits of using LSD as a treatment for alcoholism. After surveying past research, Dyck found there was ample evidence to support the idea that "tripping" helps addicts achieve the level of emotional catharsis required to give up the drink.

She interviewed a handful of reformed alcoholics who used acid to kick the habit some 40 years ago and reported:

The LSD experience appeared to allow the patients to go through a spiritual journey that ultimately empowered them to heal themselves, and that's really quite an amazing therapy regimen.

("LSD Treatment for Alcoholism Gets New Look")

Sort of puts a whole new spin on the idea of a gateway drug, doesn't it?

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[This is part of a series I'm doing here on Retrospectacle called 'Science Vault.' Pretty much I'm just going to dig back into the forgotten and moldering annuls of scientific publications to find weird and interesting studies that very likely would never be published or done today (and p
[I'm starting a new series here at Retrospectacle, called 'Science Vault,' of which this post is the first.
(updated below - Update II - Update III)