The LSD Rescue ServiceThe LSD Rescue Service
People First Radio
Historian Chris Elcock discusses George Peters and the LSD Rescue Service. Peters founded the service in Chicago in the 1960s. It helped psychedelic drug users through negative experiences, and Elcock argues, was an early form of harm reduction.
22:28•6 Mar 2023
The LSD Rescue Service: A Forgotten Chapter in Harm Reduction
“It was not about retreating into your inner sphere and just getting high constantly.”
Picture the 1960s, a time of countercultural revolutions and wild experimentation with drugs like LSD. Amidst this psychedelic backdrop, George Peters launched the LSD Rescue Service in Chicago, aiming to guide people through bad trips and negative experiences. Historian Chris Elcock takes us on a journey through this intriguing and often overlooked piece of harm reduction history. Peters' team, sometimes using tranquilizers, worked in the shadows, balancing between legal and illegal realms.
While law enforcement saw them as a threat, many medical professionals applauded their efforts. But this story isn't all peace and love; it has a dark twist. Peters eventually got entangled in cocaine trafficking, leading to a tragic downfall. This episode offers a compelling look at the complexities of drug use and harm reduction, revealing that it's not just about the high, but also the environment and context.
Tune in to hear how the LSD Rescue Service tried to make a difference in a turbulent time.
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