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Acid Test: LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal
It’s no secret that psychedelic drugs have the ability to cast light on the miraculous reality hidden within our psyche. Almost immediately after the discovery of LSD less than a hundred years ago, psychedelics began to play a crucial role in the quest to understand the link between mind and matter. With an uncanny ability to reveal the mind’s remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness, LSD and MDMA (better known as Ecstasy) have proven extraordinarily effective in treating anxiety disorders such as PTSD—yet the drugs remain illegal for millions of people who might benefit from them.
Anchoring Tom Shroder’s Acid Test are the stories of Rick Doblin, the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), who has been fighting government prohibition of psychedelics for more than thirty years; Michael Mithoefer, a former emergency room physician, now a psychiatrist at the forefront of psychedelic therapy research; and his patient Nicholas Blackston, a former Marine who has suffered unfathomable mental anguish from the effects of brutal combat experiences in Iraq. All three men are passionate, relatable people; each flawed, each resilient, and each eccentric, yet very familiar and very human.
Acid Test covers the first heady years of experimentation in the fifties and sixties, through the backlash of the seventies and eighties, when the drug subculture exploded and uncontrolled use of street psychedelics led to a PR nightmare that created the drug stereotypes of the present day. Meticulously researched and astoundingly informative, this is at once a personal story of intertwining lives against an epic backdrop, and a compelling argument for the unprecedented healing properties of drugs that have for decades been characterized as dangerous, illicit substances.
Anchoring Tom Shroder’s Acid Test are the stories of Rick Doblin, the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), who has been fighting government prohibition of psychedelics for more than thirty years; Michael Mithoefer, a former emergency room physician, now a psychiatrist at the forefront of psychedelic therapy research; and his patient Nicholas Blackston, a former Marine who has suffered unfathomable mental anguish from the effects of brutal combat experiences in Iraq. All three men are passionate, relatable people; each flawed, each resilient, and each eccentric, yet very familiar and very human.
Acid Test covers the first heady years of experimentation in the fifties and sixties, through the backlash of the seventies and eighties, when the drug subculture exploded and uncontrolled use of street psychedelics led to a PR nightmare that created the drug stereotypes of the present day. Meticulously researched and astoundingly informative, this is at once a personal story of intertwining lives against an epic backdrop, and a compelling argument for the unprecedented healing properties of drugs that have for decades been characterized as dangerous, illicit substances.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2014
177 people are currently reading
3794 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
September 13, 2015
can't be bothered to finish reading this. I hate the chapters' organization moving back and forth between different "protagonists," and the emphasis on an all-male recounting of the story of LSD is tedious. There is a brief mention of Stanislav Grov's work with his wife at the time, the wife gets no mention of her name even though apparently she was a co-author on the work. Something about that specific description really highlighted this male hero framing of the story of a chemical compound that's deeply implicated in social, political, and even economic phenomena. Disappointingly tedious.
September 15, 2014
I couldn't put it down. Tom Shroder gives the topic due respect without playing into a stereotypical pro-psychedelic bias. Shroder wasn't preaching to the choir, but letting the research and the chemicals speak for themselves.
How much did I appreciate that there was no re-hashing of Tim Leary's escapades and dragging descriptions of 60's counter-culture? Very much.
Nick Blackston's unsettling experiences in Iraq made for sad, but intriguing reading. I normally don't do war books and avoid war films. The insight into daily life as an American Soldier in Iraq was dark and stunning. It took me by surprise because I didn't expect this content to be included in such detail.
Great work by the therapeutic Mithoefer duo. They are doing incredible work and serve as a beacon of light for struggling veterans and therapists. I loved the detailed inclusion of Nick's journey towards healing. He is doing great.
I have been a member of MAPS, but didn't know much about Doblin's role and sense of mission. He is quite incredible for sticking things out and persevering as he has.
The construction of the book made for a smooth reading experience. Each chapter focuses on one of a handful of relevant characters. Sometimes it was hard to shift away from the chapters on Nick as they were so gripping. In the end, all the stories and experiences merged into a coherent and hopeful picture.
There is a lot here. It's a wonderful contribution. This book is special because it could be read by open-minded folks on either side of the issue. Cheers to Tom for nailing it with this one.
http://www.maps.org/
How much did I appreciate that there was no re-hashing of Tim Leary's escapades and dragging descriptions of 60's counter-culture? Very much.
Nick Blackston's unsettling experiences in Iraq made for sad, but intriguing reading. I normally don't do war books and avoid war films. The insight into daily life as an American Soldier in Iraq was dark and stunning. It took me by surprise because I didn't expect this content to be included in such detail.
Great work by the therapeutic Mithoefer duo. They are doing incredible work and serve as a beacon of light for struggling veterans and therapists. I loved the detailed inclusion of Nick's journey towards healing. He is doing great.
I have been a member of MAPS, but didn't know much about Doblin's role and sense of mission. He is quite incredible for sticking things out and persevering as he has.
The construction of the book made for a smooth reading experience. Each chapter focuses on one of a handful of relevant characters. Sometimes it was hard to shift away from the chapters on Nick as they were so gripping. In the end, all the stories and experiences merged into a coherent and hopeful picture.
There is a lot here. It's a wonderful contribution. This book is special because it could be read by open-minded folks on either side of the issue. Cheers to Tom for nailing it with this one.
http://www.maps.org/
May 17, 2015
Acid Test: LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal contains some fascinating history on psychedelic drugs, previous research pertaining to them, and accounts from those with first-hand experience. It's important to share stories like these because they help paint a complete portrait of illicit drugs instead of relying solely on the nonchalant attitudes or horror stories about them (both of which do the discussion a disservice). That being said, while the narratives were interesting, ultimately the discussion about LSD and MDMA was limited. When a controversial topic is presented (and I think the idea of getting illicit drugs like these approved for medical use qualifies), I expect more hard facts and reasoned arguments. Instead the book relies far too much on three in-depth stories, and while they're fascinating to an extent, they feel tired by the end. There's not enough research tied in either, with no page of sources or additional findings. For a book that exceeds 400 pages, the end result is lacking far too much.
June 30, 2017
1.5 stars
My overall impression of this was that it could have made an interesting magazine article, but there was really not enough for a 400+ page book, hence there being a lot of irrelevant journalist-y filler, with sentences like this one:
Michael sat to his right on a blue-leather office swivel chair, in his jeans, this-is-who-I-am ponytail, and gray Mister Rogers sweater; Annie to his left on a wide, neutral-coloured armchair, her thick, curly brown hair held off her broad, strong face by a hair clip.
Bleurgh.
I found the skipping perspectives between the different viewpoints jarring and irritating. Oh, and all the viewpoints were White American Dudes, which was a bit of a turn off. Shroder may have researched his subject well, or he may have just fabricated it (gray sweaters and all) because zero references are cited.
I read this book for a reading challenge task and cannot imagine I would have finished reading it otherwise. What a disappointment!
My overall impression of this was that it could have made an interesting magazine article, but there was really not enough for a 400+ page book, hence there being a lot of irrelevant journalist-y filler, with sentences like this one:
Michael sat to his right on a blue-leather office swivel chair, in his jeans, this-is-who-I-am ponytail, and gray Mister Rogers sweater; Annie to his left on a wide, neutral-coloured armchair, her thick, curly brown hair held off her broad, strong face by a hair clip.
Bleurgh.
I found the skipping perspectives between the different viewpoints jarring and irritating. Oh, and all the viewpoints were White American Dudes, which was a bit of a turn off. Shroder may have researched his subject well, or he may have just fabricated it (gray sweaters and all) because zero references are cited.
I read this book for a reading challenge task and cannot imagine I would have finished reading it otherwise. What a disappointment!
May 27, 2019
Quite an eye opening book on how getting in touch with inner feelings can be life altering.
Maybe in a few years the taboo that’s behind the psychedelics would be lifted and we can explore our subconscious further.
I guess one could see how that could be problematic for society as a whole, but then again the problem could be dealt with by implementing various regulations.
Although the book is really interesting and I couldn’t put it down after the first 100 pages, the only downside (which might be because of my over expectation from the book) is that the process of therapy itself isn’t discussed much and the book revolves mostly around the experiences and stories of persons.
P.S: Don’t mind the 3 stars. If you’re interested in the subject, the book is a really good read.
Maybe in a few years the taboo that’s behind the psychedelics would be lifted and we can explore our subconscious further.
I guess one could see how that could be problematic for society as a whole, but then again the problem could be dealt with by implementing various regulations.
Although the book is really interesting and I couldn’t put it down after the first 100 pages, the only downside (which might be because of my over expectation from the book) is that the process of therapy itself isn’t discussed much and the book revolves mostly around the experiences and stories of persons.
P.S: Don’t mind the 3 stars. If you’re interested in the subject, the book is a really good read.
August 9, 2016
A page-turner about the story of psychedelic research and its therapeutic promise, brilliantly told through the stories of three people: a researcher/psychotherapist, a US marine and the person who dedicated his life to revitalize the research that was abandoned in the 70's.
A frustrating to read, to be sure, but also with enormous promise for war veterans and others who suffer PTSD, this book should be read by doctors, politicians, and all soldiers and their families.
Highly recommended.
A frustrating to read, to be sure, but also with enormous promise for war veterans and others who suffer PTSD, this book should be read by doctors, politicians, and all soldiers and their families.
Highly recommended.
November 2, 2015
An incredibly interesting book about the use of LSD, ecstasy and other psychedelics for therapy. This book shows how these drugs, which have the ability to prompt otherworldly experiences in the user, can be used, with the help of a therapist, to solve internal problems such as PTSD. I had never heard of such uses for these drugs and I had no idea that they had actually been administered in controlled settings for therapeutic use with few negative effects. It seems that the CIA experiments created a black market demand for these drugs which is how LSD became so widespread outside of therapy sessions and research. Ecstasy is now being used in trials to treat PTSD and has been shown to be successful at helping sufferers work through and face their memories in a calm, directed way.
A few of the key personalities who were featured in this book promote the use of LSD and other psychedelics in all forms, saying that it helps to promote peace because of the feeling of oneness with the universe experienced by the user, but personally I would feel like maybe these drugs should still be limited to use with a trained professional to guide you, just because it seems like we've already seen what abuse of these drugs can do. It seemed from the research that these drugs are not addictive or habit-forming but they can be a "shortcut" to get to the same kind of experience you would desire from many years of meditating. It seems a shame that such substances that can prompt the user to heal themselves are kept from the people who need them because of the negative light that abusers of these drugs have cast on them.
That being said, the book also addressed breathwork, which is a way of getting the same kinds of insights and mental breakthroughs without the use of any drugs simply by hyperventilating with specific trained techniques. I think that is really amazing. Not everyone has the discipline to stick with the breathwork long enough and with enough concentration to receive the benefits, but I think it is important that there is an alternative method to reach these results which doesn't depend on drugs.
The book was written in an interesting way so that it felt almost dream-like to me, because even though it's a nonfiction book its topics are really outside of everyday reality. I felt that the author did a good job of pointing out interesting aspects of using these drugs for research and as medicines. For instance, why are these types of drugs so vilified when other types of drugs are also abused all the time? Any drug can be misused and yet you can be prescribed certain painkillers very easily, while psychedelics are ranked with heroin and can't even be prescribed for any reason. That just seems a bit over the top. It is interesting to question the types of drugs our society sees as "acceptable" versus those that are labeled "unacceptable" even to the point that we ignore any beneficial aspects they may contribute.
I enjoyed this book very much and it was certainly eye-opening about psychology, self-growth and healing as well as about the psychedelics themselves. Even if you have no interest in drugs, the important message to me was that the drugs are a catalyst to help you look at your own issues without self-judgement, with compassion, and with a certain amount of distance which helps to discern how to experience your feelings and any emotional baggage you may be carrying in order to let go of it and find a way forward. The drugs may help a person to reach that sort of understanding, but it is possible to come to the same self-acceptance and healing on your own. It was also important that even with the drugs, it took a great deal of courage and strength to face the personal problems the patients had, as it involved looking deeply at their inner selves and at images of themselves which might be extremely unpleasant, in order to move forward.
Highly recommended book for anyone interested in healing and psychology.
A few of the key personalities who were featured in this book promote the use of LSD and other psychedelics in all forms, saying that it helps to promote peace because of the feeling of oneness with the universe experienced by the user, but personally I would feel like maybe these drugs should still be limited to use with a trained professional to guide you, just because it seems like we've already seen what abuse of these drugs can do. It seemed from the research that these drugs are not addictive or habit-forming but they can be a "shortcut" to get to the same kind of experience you would desire from many years of meditating. It seems a shame that such substances that can prompt the user to heal themselves are kept from the people who need them because of the negative light that abusers of these drugs have cast on them.
That being said, the book also addressed breathwork, which is a way of getting the same kinds of insights and mental breakthroughs without the use of any drugs simply by hyperventilating with specific trained techniques. I think that is really amazing. Not everyone has the discipline to stick with the breathwork long enough and with enough concentration to receive the benefits, but I think it is important that there is an alternative method to reach these results which doesn't depend on drugs.
The book was written in an interesting way so that it felt almost dream-like to me, because even though it's a nonfiction book its topics are really outside of everyday reality. I felt that the author did a good job of pointing out interesting aspects of using these drugs for research and as medicines. For instance, why are these types of drugs so vilified when other types of drugs are also abused all the time? Any drug can be misused and yet you can be prescribed certain painkillers very easily, while psychedelics are ranked with heroin and can't even be prescribed for any reason. That just seems a bit over the top. It is interesting to question the types of drugs our society sees as "acceptable" versus those that are labeled "unacceptable" even to the point that we ignore any beneficial aspects they may contribute.
I enjoyed this book very much and it was certainly eye-opening about psychology, self-growth and healing as well as about the psychedelics themselves. Even if you have no interest in drugs, the important message to me was that the drugs are a catalyst to help you look at your own issues without self-judgement, with compassion, and with a certain amount of distance which helps to discern how to experience your feelings and any emotional baggage you may be carrying in order to let go of it and find a way forward. The drugs may help a person to reach that sort of understanding, but it is possible to come to the same self-acceptance and healing on your own. It was also important that even with the drugs, it took a great deal of courage and strength to face the personal problems the patients had, as it involved looking deeply at their inner selves and at images of themselves which might be extremely unpleasant, in order to move forward.
Highly recommended book for anyone interested in healing and psychology.
March 24, 2023
This took me way too long to read, on account of it mostly being my morning coffee book.
It was a great read, however, covering the personal stories of multiple people, the history of psychedelic drug use/legislation in the United States, and how they intertwine towards the goal of reducing taboo, allowing research of these compounds, and their potential for therapeutic use. Despite the name, this book mostly follows the therapeutic potential of MDMA ("Ecstasy") and not LSD ("Acid").
It was a great read, however, covering the personal stories of multiple people, the history of psychedelic drug use/legislation in the United States, and how they intertwine towards the goal of reducing taboo, allowing research of these compounds, and their potential for therapeutic use. Despite the name, this book mostly follows the therapeutic potential of MDMA ("Ecstasy") and not LSD ("Acid").
July 19, 2017
Acid Test is a very fun look at the historical fight for the medical legalization of psychedelic therapies. Shroder manages to tell a story that is both balanced and terrifically entertaining as he follows the experiences of some very remarkable people. This is not only one of the best nonfiction books you will read this year, but one that has a real chance to provoke positive change. I've long been convinced by the science that supports the therapeutic use of certain psychedelic compounds. Their senseless illegality is causing harm. Read Acid Test and I think you'll agree.
January 24, 2018
If I could give this book six stars, I would. It's easily one of the best things that I've read in a very long time. Incredible from beginning to end. The book covers everything from not only LSD and MDMA, but also Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, Mescaline, even breathwork (Michael & Stan), and all of the studies, research, and tests done on each. Personally, I find it a shame that each have found their way into the list of Schedule 1 drugs (except breath work, or course), while possibly holding the answers for many mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, just to name a few.
Back to the book though. It is very well researched and written. Written to the point that you almost feel like you're having a conversation directly with the author, Tom Shroder, and the other people that he researched for the book (Michael, Rick, and Nick). I especially fell in love with the parts of the book about Nick and the pain that he went through as a Marine, in combat, and the agony that he brought back home. I was happy to see that he was finally able to receive the help that he so desperately needed, but at the same time, he's still damaged and always will be. Another casualty of war.
Hat's off to Rick for his never-ending, year after year persistence to fight for what he believes in, and also Annie & Michael for the research that have helped countless lives.
Fighting my own mental illness issues, I found everything about this book enlightening, enough so, that I'm now interested in university research trials for my own obstacles that I'm forced to deal with on a daily basis, instead of pumping endless 'big-named' pharmaceuticals into my body, day after day (for what may be the rest of my life). Maybe the answer lies somewhere else, and this book has empowered me to seek possible alternatives that may hold the solution that many are looking for.
Thanks Tom, for such an outstanding and eye-opening book. This has changed my life and given me hope that I may one day find what I thoroughly need.
Back to the book though. It is very well researched and written. Written to the point that you almost feel like you're having a conversation directly with the author, Tom Shroder, and the other people that he researched for the book (Michael, Rick, and Nick). I especially fell in love with the parts of the book about Nick and the pain that he went through as a Marine, in combat, and the agony that he brought back home. I was happy to see that he was finally able to receive the help that he so desperately needed, but at the same time, he's still damaged and always will be. Another casualty of war.
Hat's off to Rick for his never-ending, year after year persistence to fight for what he believes in, and also Annie & Michael for the research that have helped countless lives.
Fighting my own mental illness issues, I found everything about this book enlightening, enough so, that I'm now interested in university research trials for my own obstacles that I'm forced to deal with on a daily basis, instead of pumping endless 'big-named' pharmaceuticals into my body, day after day (for what may be the rest of my life). Maybe the answer lies somewhere else, and this book has empowered me to seek possible alternatives that may hold the solution that many are looking for.
Thanks Tom, for such an outstanding and eye-opening book. This has changed my life and given me hope that I may one day find what I thoroughly need.
August 5, 2021
I would give it a 3.5. I came into the book a bit skeptical as I am completely sober but I will say it definitely has changed my view on certain drugs, particularly LSD and MDMA(molly/ecstasy). The book brings forward many examples of the medical benefits of these psychedelics during the 1960s/70s as well as present day studies as recent as 2015. Almost all studies showed quite significant positive results using psychedelics for anxiety, depression, various types of addiction, PTSD etc etc. The opening of the mind that is created through use of psychedelics helps the patient cure themselves. While various drugs on the market treat the symptoms of mental illnesses, psychedelics cure it. I have never seen any kind of drug that gets the results that these psychedelics appear to achieve in such a short period of time (as little as one session could eliminate almost all symptoms of various mental illnesses). If you are struggling with any of the mental illnesses mentioned, this book might intrigue you.
The cons that resulted in my low rating were:
The way the book is written is confusing as each chapter there is as change in narrator but in no predictable matter. The book also could be shorter, 450 pages is a bit much.
The cons that resulted in my low rating were:
The way the book is written is confusing as each chapter there is as change in narrator but in no predictable matter. The book also could be shorter, 450 pages is a bit much.
October 25, 2025
This book was very interesting. It was kind of hard to get through at some points but I definitely learned a lot!
April 21, 2017
I originally discovered this (then-unpublished) book in an email from MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) that was requesting support for the Legalizing Psychedelic Therapy campaign on Indiegogo. Being a supporter of MAPS' efforts and intrigued by the book's premise, I jumped on the opportunity to donate right away.
The book came in the mail just before I had the opportunity to see author Tom Shroder and one of the main characters in the book, Nicholas Blackston, speak at the 2014 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York City. I was moved by their presentation and looked forward to reading the book, although I wasn't able to make time to read it until this month.
Shroder is an editor at The Washington Post Magazine, an acclaimed journalist, and the author of Old Souls. As a fellow writer, I look up to him although I was previously unfamiliar with his work prior to this book. Acid Test weaves several non-fiction narratives together into a page-turner tale that includes a fairly in-depth history of psychedelic research, explores some of the various characters in the psychedelic community, and describes the current state of psychedelic research with a focus on MDMA-(also known by its street name "Ecstasy") assisted psychotherapeutic treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I was familiar with many of the characters in the book. These include (but are not limited to) Rick Doblin, the founder of MAPS, Michael Mithoefer, a former emergency room physician-turned psychiatrist at the forefront of modern psychedelic therapy, Albert Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who first synthesized LSD in 1938, and Stanislav Grof, the creator of Holotropic Breathwork therapy. However, I wasn't familiar with the story of former Marine Nicholas Blackston.
Before I began the book, I thought I would be more interested in the descriptions of psychedelic research and its various characters, but as I continued to read on and on, the story that really pulled me in and kept me coming back was Blackston's. As a former Marine, Blackston witnessed horrors in war that most of us cannot fathom, and when he returned stateside he was tortured from the inside-out by reoccurring nightmares, uncontrollable flashback hallucinations, a temper with an increasingly short fuse, and physical pain from shrapnel wounds acquired during his combat missions.
Blackston ended up being one of the lucky ones, however. Compared to the majority of our returned military personnel who are currently suffering tremendously from PTSD, he was fortunate enough to seek and receive help from MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and has experienced many positive results from his treatment. Although his PTSD is not completely gone, it is greatly diminished due to the healing power of MDMA and the wisdom of his experienced therapeutic guides. Acid Test argues that our veterans deserve the right to receive reliable and effective treatment, rather than the typical, dangerous, and fruitless hodgepodge of pharmaceutical drugs that they receive from traditional sources of help like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
MAPS is on track to reach its goal of legalizing MDMA by 2021, and books like Acid Test go a long way toward supporting that effort. As a person who is well-educated on the psychedelic research side of the book, I can vouch that it is well-researched and presented in an easy-to-understand manner. The personal stories that make up the book make for a fascinating and personal reading experience, and I hope that the message continues to reach as many people as possible.
The book came in the mail just before I had the opportunity to see author Tom Shroder and one of the main characters in the book, Nicholas Blackston, speak at the 2014 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York City. I was moved by their presentation and looked forward to reading the book, although I wasn't able to make time to read it until this month.
Shroder is an editor at The Washington Post Magazine, an acclaimed journalist, and the author of Old Souls. As a fellow writer, I look up to him although I was previously unfamiliar with his work prior to this book. Acid Test weaves several non-fiction narratives together into a page-turner tale that includes a fairly in-depth history of psychedelic research, explores some of the various characters in the psychedelic community, and describes the current state of psychedelic research with a focus on MDMA-(also known by its street name "Ecstasy") assisted psychotherapeutic treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I was familiar with many of the characters in the book. These include (but are not limited to) Rick Doblin, the founder of MAPS, Michael Mithoefer, a former emergency room physician-turned psychiatrist at the forefront of modern psychedelic therapy, Albert Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who first synthesized LSD in 1938, and Stanislav Grof, the creator of Holotropic Breathwork therapy. However, I wasn't familiar with the story of former Marine Nicholas Blackston.
Before I began the book, I thought I would be more interested in the descriptions of psychedelic research and its various characters, but as I continued to read on and on, the story that really pulled me in and kept me coming back was Blackston's. As a former Marine, Blackston witnessed horrors in war that most of us cannot fathom, and when he returned stateside he was tortured from the inside-out by reoccurring nightmares, uncontrollable flashback hallucinations, a temper with an increasingly short fuse, and physical pain from shrapnel wounds acquired during his combat missions.
Blackston ended up being one of the lucky ones, however. Compared to the majority of our returned military personnel who are currently suffering tremendously from PTSD, he was fortunate enough to seek and receive help from MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and has experienced many positive results from his treatment. Although his PTSD is not completely gone, it is greatly diminished due to the healing power of MDMA and the wisdom of his experienced therapeutic guides. Acid Test argues that our veterans deserve the right to receive reliable and effective treatment, rather than the typical, dangerous, and fruitless hodgepodge of pharmaceutical drugs that they receive from traditional sources of help like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
MAPS is on track to reach its goal of legalizing MDMA by 2021, and books like Acid Test go a long way toward supporting that effort. As a person who is well-educated on the psychedelic research side of the book, I can vouch that it is well-researched and presented in an easy-to-understand manner. The personal stories that make up the book make for a fascinating and personal reading experience, and I hope that the message continues to reach as many people as possible.
October 28, 2014
Author Tom Shroder focuses on two main characters---Rick Doblin, a modern Renaissance man who used LSD to overcome anxiety issues in his college years and now is one of the leaders in the psychedelics-as-therapy movement and Nicholas Blackston, an Iraq War vet who overcome PTSD through MDMA (Ecstasy) therapy---and a third minor character, Michael Mithoefer, the psychiatrist who treated Nicholas, to tell this fascinating story. Most people nowadays may be unaware that psychedelics first entered popular culture in the West as a valuable tool for psychotherapists in the 1950s. LSD was seen as a possible miracle drug by many to treat things such as alcoholism and depression. However, once it got out into the youth culture, out of the control of the psychotherapists in the 1960s, the attitude from the government changed and LSD was placed a Schedule I drug, meaning it had no possible medical value. This political decision was done in spite of all the research that had already been done and it effectively shut off psychedelic therapy for the next 25-30 years.
The same history was repeated with MDMA, which became known as Ecstasy once it was marketed on the street, in the late 1970s and 1980s. In fact, psychotherapists were even more excited about it than LSD because it wasn't as hallucinatory and, well, bizarre, but rather broke down psychological walls and allowed patients to feel comfortable speaking about their fears without feeling defensive. About halfway into this book, the author tells the story of the frustrating court battle where the DEA ignored the conclusions of its own judge that MDMA should be allowed to be used by psychotherapists so it wasn't until the past 10 years that research has been allowed.
So this is a book that tells how, in spite of government restrictions, these drugs are slowly being allowed back into the scientific mainstream and how useful they could be for things like PTSD, depression and helping people face their mortality. That, however, is just scratching the surface and, as the book shows, it really is only the governments that are getting in the way of seeing what these fascinating compounds could do to help people. Oops---not only the governments, but the pharmaceutical companies, too. After all, they prefer to give people anti-depressants that they must use long-term, rather than giving them a few treatments with these substances and then having people not need them anymore.
The same history was repeated with MDMA, which became known as Ecstasy once it was marketed on the street, in the late 1970s and 1980s. In fact, psychotherapists were even more excited about it than LSD because it wasn't as hallucinatory and, well, bizarre, but rather broke down psychological walls and allowed patients to feel comfortable speaking about their fears without feeling defensive. About halfway into this book, the author tells the story of the frustrating court battle where the DEA ignored the conclusions of its own judge that MDMA should be allowed to be used by psychotherapists so it wasn't until the past 10 years that research has been allowed.
So this is a book that tells how, in spite of government restrictions, these drugs are slowly being allowed back into the scientific mainstream and how useful they could be for things like PTSD, depression and helping people face their mortality. That, however, is just scratching the surface and, as the book shows, it really is only the governments that are getting in the way of seeing what these fascinating compounds could do to help people. Oops---not only the governments, but the pharmaceutical companies, too. After all, they prefer to give people anti-depressants that they must use long-term, rather than giving them a few treatments with these substances and then having people not need them anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2016
Interesting look at the use and research history of psychedelic drugs in treating PTSD. Once legal, LSD and Ecstasy are now both Schedule I drugs, meaning they are deemed to have no currently accepted medical use and are considered to have a high potential for abuse. But they have also shown promise in treating patients with PTSD in a controlled therapy setting.
This book is told in alternating chapters between Rick, who has been pro-psychedelics since 18 and has devoted his adult life fighting to see them legalized as a therapeutic tool, Michael, an ER doctor turned psychiatrist turned psychedelic therapist and Nicolas, a young man who had disturbing visions as a child and who suffered from horrible PTSD following service as a Marine in Iraq, and who sought out Micheal's clinical trial after traditional anti-depressant therapy did not help his PTSD but rather made him feel like a zombie.
I liked the alternating voices as the suspense of how Nicolas's story was going to play out got me through the other chapters as his story was told from beginning to end. I did find the "technical" aspects of the research history got a little boring in places, especially toward the end of the book. This is why I don't read a lot of nonfiction, however; they tend to get too "textbooky" for me and my mind wanders. So that's really more on me than the book itself.
I tore through about the first 2/3 of the book and then wanted to tear my hair out trying to get through the last third when Michael and Rick's stories merged which put a lot more emphasis on the struggles to get approval for clinical trials. I was more interested in the results of the trials than the road to get there; again, that's just me. And as a woman who has suffered a traumatic life event in the past, I would have liked to see the perspective of another woman as one of the central characters rather than a couple of case studies at the end.
This book is told in alternating chapters between Rick, who has been pro-psychedelics since 18 and has devoted his adult life fighting to see them legalized as a therapeutic tool, Michael, an ER doctor turned psychiatrist turned psychedelic therapist and Nicolas, a young man who had disturbing visions as a child and who suffered from horrible PTSD following service as a Marine in Iraq, and who sought out Micheal's clinical trial after traditional anti-depressant therapy did not help his PTSD but rather made him feel like a zombie.
I liked the alternating voices as the suspense of how Nicolas's story was going to play out got me through the other chapters as his story was told from beginning to end. I did find the "technical" aspects of the research history got a little boring in places, especially toward the end of the book. This is why I don't read a lot of nonfiction, however; they tend to get too "textbooky" for me and my mind wanders. So that's really more on me than the book itself.
I tore through about the first 2/3 of the book and then wanted to tear my hair out trying to get through the last third when Michael and Rick's stories merged which put a lot more emphasis on the struggles to get approval for clinical trials. I was more interested in the results of the trials than the road to get there; again, that's just me. And as a woman who has suffered a traumatic life event in the past, I would have liked to see the perspective of another woman as one of the central characters rather than a couple of case studies at the end.
April 5, 2020
2016.02.17–2016.02.23
Contents
Shroder T (2014) (14:14) Acid Test - LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal
01. Albert (St. Albert's Fire)
02. Nicholas (A Sign)
03. Werner and Stan (The Maelstrom of Poe)
04. Nicholas (What Makes Grass Grow)
05. Humphry and Aldous (To Fall in Hell or Soar Angelic)
06. Rick (Brave New World)
07. Nicholas (Tires, Grille, Kill)
08. Rick (Hidden Realms)
09. Nicholas (Dreamland)
10. Rick (Perilous Terrain)
11. Nicholas (American Dreams)
12. Rick (Peak Experiences)
13. Michael (The Pit)
14. Nicholas (Taking the Lead)
15. Rick (Concrete Reality)
16. Michael (Fertile Soil)
17. Nicholas ("Man, You're Scared")
18. Rick (Who Would Be Born)
19. Michael (Sailing Away)
20. Nicholas (Going Cyclic)
21. Rick (Breathing Lessons)
22. Nicholas (Of Man and Superman)
23. Rick (Ecstasy and Agony)
24. Michael (Heal Thyself)
25. Nicholas ("Got a Light?")
26. Rick (Forces of Nature)
27. Michael (Getting to the Root)
28. Nicholas ("Keep the Glove On")
29. Rick (Drug Warriors)
30. Michael (Catnip)
31. Nicholas (All Gummed Up)
32. Rick (Full Flower of Depression)
33. Nicholas (Heavy Duty)
34. Rick (Hippie of the Year)
35. Michael (Mother Ibogaine)
36. Nichola (Don't Forget to Check Your Guns)
37. Rick (Machine Elves)
38. Nicholas (The Maniac in the Mirror)
39. Rick (Earthquakes and Rainbows)
40. Michael ("Are You a Psychiatrist?")
41. Nicholas (Have a Plan)
42. Michael (Getting Crooked)
43. Roland Griffiths (A Healing Void)
44. Nicholas (The Vicious Cycle)
45. Michael (The Peace Drug)
46. Nicholas (The Web of Life)
47. Rick ("Our Lives and Time")
48. Nicholas (Semper Fi)
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author
Contents
Shroder T (2014) (14:14) Acid Test - LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal
01. Albert (St. Albert's Fire)
02. Nicholas (A Sign)
03. Werner and Stan (The Maelstrom of Poe)
04. Nicholas (What Makes Grass Grow)
05. Humphry and Aldous (To Fall in Hell or Soar Angelic)
06. Rick (Brave New World)
07. Nicholas (Tires, Grille, Kill)
08. Rick (Hidden Realms)
09. Nicholas (Dreamland)
10. Rick (Perilous Terrain)
11. Nicholas (American Dreams)
12. Rick (Peak Experiences)
13. Michael (The Pit)
14. Nicholas (Taking the Lead)
15. Rick (Concrete Reality)
16. Michael (Fertile Soil)
17. Nicholas ("Man, You're Scared")
18. Rick (Who Would Be Born)
19. Michael (Sailing Away)
20. Nicholas (Going Cyclic)
21. Rick (Breathing Lessons)
22. Nicholas (Of Man and Superman)
23. Rick (Ecstasy and Agony)
24. Michael (Heal Thyself)
25. Nicholas ("Got a Light?")
26. Rick (Forces of Nature)
27. Michael (Getting to the Root)
28. Nicholas ("Keep the Glove On")
29. Rick (Drug Warriors)
30. Michael (Catnip)
31. Nicholas (All Gummed Up)
32. Rick (Full Flower of Depression)
33. Nicholas (Heavy Duty)
34. Rick (Hippie of the Year)
35. Michael (Mother Ibogaine)
36. Nichola (Don't Forget to Check Your Guns)
37. Rick (Machine Elves)
38. Nicholas (The Maniac in the Mirror)
39. Rick (Earthquakes and Rainbows)
40. Michael ("Are You a Psychiatrist?")
41. Nicholas (Have a Plan)
42. Michael (Getting Crooked)
43. Roland Griffiths (A Healing Void)
44. Nicholas (The Vicious Cycle)
45. Michael (The Peace Drug)
46. Nicholas (The Web of Life)
47. Rick ("Our Lives and Time")
48. Nicholas (Semper Fi)
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author
February 17, 2017
Gloriously intriguing. Enjoyable to read if only for the stories it follows, but also inspiring and comforting learning that there are people fighting the good fight - refusing to stand down from getting a treatment that could save lives legalised. Ends discussing what is happening currently. Makes me wants to embark on my own MDMA fueled self-exploration.
March 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, throughout it each chapter was for three different characters all going through some sort of traumatic experience in there life. Each person in the book was able to break through that sort of traumatizing block that didn't allow them to enjoy life as they should until coming into MDMA (Acid) therapy, which they learned that none of the blocks shouldn't have a toll on them as they didn't have control over those situations. I overall enjoyed the book and how it explained how this type of test helped those in pain.
March 23, 2015
The story of my favorite nonprofit organization, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. More or less, the story and travails of its founder Rick Doblin, as he progressed from stoner-head and counter-culturalist to stone-sober researcher and advocate for a return to more reasoned approaches to psychedelic therapy. Just the two simple words "psychedelic therapy" are enough to put the fear into many of the psychoanalysts I've been personally acquainted with, whose political opinions about the subject have generally remained far, far behind in the Inquisition years and Dark Ages. Doblin is succeeding where freaks like Leary would and could not, simply because he's pulling all the right punches, an playing the game the way the square demand it be played. But it's no joke that there ARE, indeed, valid reasons that thee substances have a therapeutic value, especially in transformative situations (alcoholism, PTSD, terminal illness, and end-of-life experience) and they've gotten nothing but a bad name from people who should have known better- primarily, people who would NEVER consider attempting to use them themselves. That's always been the big divide about psychedelics- those with the courage to undergo the experience, and those too timid who will cavil and crow about "artificial enlightenment." It's not artificial to those who have been through the crucible. And now the truth has emerged that these substance are not NEARLY as harmful or deleterious as the with hunters had once claimed. So read this book, and let the knockers eat the big one. It is about time.
December 19, 2015
I started this book in September, but had to put it down for a bit - not from disinterest but because the hardcover version is a rock to bring on your commute. When I purchase the Kindle version, I dove back into this and LOVED IT. Tom Shroder did his due research here and takes us on a journey from the discovery of acid more than a century ago, to its accepted use in clinical sets for treating illnesses such as alcoholism, its boom as a recreational drug and this its consequential Schedule I drug banning, to more recent efforts to pass the drug through FDA trials as treatment for PTSD.
Through these history lessons, Tom Shroder introduces us to both the heavy players in the field to folks suffering from PTSD and find huge relief in LSD or MDMA assisted therapy sessions. This book excited me about the possibilities of treatment for people suffering from wartime or abuse related PTSD, but also made me angry at how the government and FDA has pushed back these efforts - all the while rushing and approving millions of addictive drugs for prescription use. A long read, but a worthy one. Educate yourself and open your mind to other forms of medical treatment - it doesn't always come in an orange plastic bottle, or have to be consumed everyday. Sometimes people just need to know that they are loved, safe, and connected. Those feelings may not cure bad memories, but it be what people need to start the healing process (rather then treating symptoms with a band-aid of antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.).
Highly recommended!
Through these history lessons, Tom Shroder introduces us to both the heavy players in the field to folks suffering from PTSD and find huge relief in LSD or MDMA assisted therapy sessions. This book excited me about the possibilities of treatment for people suffering from wartime or abuse related PTSD, but also made me angry at how the government and FDA has pushed back these efforts - all the while rushing and approving millions of addictive drugs for prescription use. A long read, but a worthy one. Educate yourself and open your mind to other forms of medical treatment - it doesn't always come in an orange plastic bottle, or have to be consumed everyday. Sometimes people just need to know that they are loved, safe, and connected. Those feelings may not cure bad memories, but it be what people need to start the healing process (rather then treating symptoms with a band-aid of antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.).
Highly recommended!
October 27, 2014
I won this book through first reads, and I am glad that I did.
As other reviewers have posted, Shroder, a journalist, has done an in depth study of psychedelic drugs. He delves into their introduction into society, society's use of the drug - both recreationally and medically (whether that was self medicated or otherwise). Rather than present the information that he found like a clinical text book, he presents it in a narrative form by following several people who had very different goals when they began using the various drugs. He also discusses the social and governmental responses to these drugs, while presenting thought provoking ideas for the reader to consider regarding potential beneficial use of these medications as well as changes in the regulations of these drugs.
I was a little overwhelmed when I first saw the book - it was much larger than I expected. I was afraid that it was going to be a dry, though interesting, read. I was so wrong! It was written in such an approachable and easy to read way. I learned a lot about these drugs and their impact on our culture over the past 60+ years.
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I will look for more books by this author.
As other reviewers have posted, Shroder, a journalist, has done an in depth study of psychedelic drugs. He delves into their introduction into society, society's use of the drug - both recreationally and medically (whether that was self medicated or otherwise). Rather than present the information that he found like a clinical text book, he presents it in a narrative form by following several people who had very different goals when they began using the various drugs. He also discusses the social and governmental responses to these drugs, while presenting thought provoking ideas for the reader to consider regarding potential beneficial use of these medications as well as changes in the regulations of these drugs.
I was a little overwhelmed when I first saw the book - it was much larger than I expected. I was afraid that it was going to be a dry, though interesting, read. I was so wrong! It was written in such an approachable and easy to read way. I learned a lot about these drugs and their impact on our culture over the past 60+ years.
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I will look for more books by this author.
March 23, 2015
Acid Test: LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal by Tom Shroder is a very odd book. Not only does Shroder tell a story of his experiences with psychedelic drugs, but also gives back up information on the history of the drug "acid" and other drugs. With stories of more individuals that use drugs like this for alcoholism, also give the aspect of how real this issue is. I am for using drugs like this to help with mental illness, and this book helped me make my opinion even more clear and solid.
When Shroder uses his example of being on acid and learning to release his depression as if it were a muscle, this was very inspiring. I'm not going to go out and do "acid", but this really makes a clear reason of why people shouldn't be so oblivious to psychedelic drugs. Shroder continues to say that he also eventually learned how to control this "muscle" while sober, also somewhat proving that people don't necessarily get addicted to these drugs.
Overall, Tom Shroder wrote a very inspiring book over the use of psychedelic drugs. Adding his own personal story and factual analyses of using, and creating these drugs; it really gives an insight that people may not see, and or realize. This could potentially change the way we help people with mental illnesses.
When Shroder uses his example of being on acid and learning to release his depression as if it were a muscle, this was very inspiring. I'm not going to go out and do "acid", but this really makes a clear reason of why people shouldn't be so oblivious to psychedelic drugs. Shroder continues to say that he also eventually learned how to control this "muscle" while sober, also somewhat proving that people don't necessarily get addicted to these drugs.
Overall, Tom Shroder wrote a very inspiring book over the use of psychedelic drugs. Adding his own personal story and factual analyses of using, and creating these drugs; it really gives an insight that people may not see, and or realize. This could potentially change the way we help people with mental illnesses.
December 11, 2015
Fantastic book, but if it's approached through the lens of the typical attitudes/propaganda about drugs like LSD and MDMA - Drugs're bad, mmmkaaay - you probably won't enjoy it. The quoted 83% success rate in the MDMA therapy trials are nothing short of miraculous, and it's absolutely insane that a drug like this, with so much positive potential, stays Schedule I while something as destructive and worthless as alcohol is actively promoted and sugar-coated by our culture.
As a fan of Iraq War narratives, Nicholas' (Marine with PTSD) story was absolutely heart-rending and one of the better parts of the book...lost count of how many times I cried - "so it loosened me up and turned me into, I guess, a softie". Me too, Nick.
Lots of things in this book stuck out to me, but this maybe means the most to me personally, right now:
"As a rationalist, he'd lost his religious faith in high school when he realized he was simply mouthing a creed he didn't actually believe. But now he realized that what he had been lacking - and the thing that all religious creeds imperfectly attempted to codify - was that personal transcendent experience."
As a fan of Iraq War narratives, Nicholas' (Marine with PTSD) story was absolutely heart-rending and one of the better parts of the book...lost count of how many times I cried - "so it loosened me up and turned me into, I guess, a softie". Me too, Nick.
Lots of things in this book stuck out to me, but this maybe means the most to me personally, right now:
"As a rationalist, he'd lost his religious faith in high school when he realized he was simply mouthing a creed he didn't actually believe. But now he realized that what he had been lacking - and the thing that all religious creeds imperfectly attempted to codify - was that personal transcendent experience."
April 6, 2015
I didn't know much what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised as it wasn't just a rehash of a lot of the populist psychoactive drug literature. We learn a lot about the history of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and its founder Rick Doblin and his quest for trying to get both MDMA and LSD moved down from Schedule I and approved for medical uses.
There is an interesting substory of Nick, a Marine that fought in Iraq, and is suffering from PTSD after coming back home. I never read or knew much about PTSD, but Nick's story that's interwoven throughout the book showed me how debilitating it really is, and how MDMA combined with therapy can be used to help those that are suffering from it.
If you are interested in the whole spectrum of history of psychedelics, from the ancient ayuhasca brew and the invention of LSD in '38, to the current status of Rick Doblin and MAPS trying to get MDMA downgraded to Schedule II to help people who suffer from PTSD (they are still at least a decade away), do give this book a read.
There is an interesting substory of Nick, a Marine that fought in Iraq, and is suffering from PTSD after coming back home. I never read or knew much about PTSD, but Nick's story that's interwoven throughout the book showed me how debilitating it really is, and how MDMA combined with therapy can be used to help those that are suffering from it.
If you are interested in the whole spectrum of history of psychedelics, from the ancient ayuhasca brew and the invention of LSD in '38, to the current status of Rick Doblin and MAPS trying to get MDMA downgraded to Schedule II to help people who suffer from PTSD (they are still at least a decade away), do give this book a read.
October 8, 2016
This is the best book I have read on psychedelics and also how it has helped those that use it to raise awareness to the benefits of psychedelics in healing the mind, especially those that have served in the Military. It gives real, impacting stories and factual information on how and why the government keeps these amazing substances away from the public ... not to keep them safe ... but to keep them under control ... controls that are not necessary and actually keep our population addicted to drugs that do NOT serve them (i.e., alcohol, cocaine, crack, meth, heroine). Acid Test explains in detail how many of the psychedelics that are banned actually help to cure people of their addictions to the drugs listed above.
I would suggest this book to everyone. It is well done, well written and a gift to my life. Thank you to everyone that participating in putting this work together.
~Joy
I would suggest this book to everyone. It is well done, well written and a gift to my life. Thank you to everyone that participating in putting this work together.
~Joy
October 12, 2014
Acid Test is an enthralling story of the people behind the renaissance in psychedelic drug research. We follow their beginnings, alternating between the researchers and a Marine they will treat, until their paths meet at the advent of formal trials of MDMA therapy.
The Marine left himself an open book for Shroder's documentation. His personal account of his childhood, combat in Iraq, and life after allow us to fully appreciate how a few hours under the influence of MDMA can reveal a path out of PTSD, no matter how old the wounds.
There is an equally detailed account of the conflict over research. A tenacious, small group of true believers in the power of these drugs challenge the Goliath of prohibition. We're left frustrated at how policies against a black market are used against medicine, and inspired that people would spend decades correcting it.
The Marine left himself an open book for Shroder's documentation. His personal account of his childhood, combat in Iraq, and life after allow us to fully appreciate how a few hours under the influence of MDMA can reveal a path out of PTSD, no matter how old the wounds.
There is an equally detailed account of the conflict over research. A tenacious, small group of true believers in the power of these drugs challenge the Goliath of prohibition. We're left frustrated at how policies against a black market are used against medicine, and inspired that people would spend decades correcting it.
July 22, 2015
Acid test is the story of three people who suffer from PTSD or other similar anxiety disorders. The book first recounts a fairly thorough history of psychedelic drugs in the United States. I learned a lot from these chapters, including the story of the discoverer of LAD (Albert Hoffman) through the protracted regulatory battle to keep MDMA legal for medial use.
The book then goes on to track the stories of three sufferers of PTSD, and how MDMA proved to be an extremely successful treatment. The book certain has an opinion on whether MDMA should be legalized, and he talks in great detail about the Kafkaesque FDA process on its behalf.
If you have any interest in psychedelics, whether medical or recreational, it's a well-written book that succeeds at being interesting throughout. Surprisingly so.
The book then goes on to track the stories of three sufferers of PTSD, and how MDMA proved to be an extremely successful treatment. The book certain has an opinion on whether MDMA should be legalized, and he talks in great detail about the Kafkaesque FDA process on its behalf.
If you have any interest in psychedelics, whether medical or recreational, it's a well-written book that succeeds at being interesting throughout. Surprisingly so.
May 27, 2016
If you are looking for a science, its not in this book. This is a far more cerebral approach to the idea of whether or not these types of drugs offer real clinical results.
The composition of this book should have been better reviewed by the editor, as the way the story is told can often become distracting and annoying to a reader who would have been otherwise totally drawn in by the books characters. I'm certain it was my own personal interest in the subject matter that allowed me to look past the glaring inconsistencies in the timeline.
Never the less it offers a good (if biased) introduction into the scientific and political history of psychedelics and the stories of the three protagonists are well told and hooks you enough that you truly want to find out where their journeys end.
The composition of this book should have been better reviewed by the editor, as the way the story is told can often become distracting and annoying to a reader who would have been otherwise totally drawn in by the books characters. I'm certain it was my own personal interest in the subject matter that allowed me to look past the glaring inconsistencies in the timeline.
Never the less it offers a good (if biased) introduction into the scientific and political history of psychedelics and the stories of the three protagonists are well told and hooks you enough that you truly want to find out where their journeys end.
October 21, 2014
an excellent guide to the history of modern psychedelic research - from the personal to the political, the mystical to the scientific. we live in an historically important time when the lines between subjective psychological experience, the mind/matter dilemma (what IS sentience?), and the future course of our species are increasingly intersecting and cross-pollinating each other with exciting new discoveries and revelations. hooray for the scientists and psychonauts, and everyone in between, who continue to trailblaze the way forward!
August 30, 2015
Shroder's framing of the non-fiction history of psychedelics use for medical purposes in essentially three biographical narrative stories converging on one PTSD therapy session does more than any medical study to raise questions about why as a society we've let fear and ignorance dictate over science and compassion. We take medicine to feel better and if medicines are abused, then maybe we should look at why people feel so damned bad, rather than take away medicines that might actually provide some psychological relief.
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