The Psychedelic Comeback: Danielle Giffort on Acid Revival and Medical Legitimacy
The ebb and flow of the field of psychedelic science and its legitimacy, I think, can really be almost neatly mapped onto these contextual factors that have direct and indirect impacts on the fields
Psychedelic drugs are making a surprising return to the medical field, and Danielle Giffort is here to tell us all about it. In this episode of 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery', host Marshall Poe sits down with Giffort to discuss her book, *Acid Revival: The Psychedelic Renaissance and the Quest for Medical Legitimacy*.
The conversation takes us through the intriguing history of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin, which were once hailed as potential treatments for mental health issues before falling out of favor for decades. Now, they're back in the spotlight, with researchers exploring their effectiveness in treating conditions such as depression, OCD, PTSD, and addiction. Giffort sheds light on the challenges these modern researchers face, including the long shadow cast by Timothy Leary, a controversial figure from the past.
She explains how today's scientists are working to distinguish their rigorous methodologies from Leary's more flamboyant approach to gain medical legitimacy. If you're curious about the cultural and scientific hurdles in reviving psychedelic medicine, this episode offers a fascinating deep dive.