Aa history Lovers 2004 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page

Date: Fri Apr 9, 2004 9:11 am

Subject: Re: GSO and Traditions

Kent,

[III] To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of AA. --

the

Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs,

[XII] The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care

that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient

operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place

none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that

it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible,

by

substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an

and

thought and action.

Now, I don't know how much you want to split hairs, but these two Concepts, as

well as references within the other Concepts clearly indicate to me that all

AA entities recognize and follow the Traditions. At the same time, the

Traditions are not legal documents and do not provide the necessary language

in

corporate circles to allow AA to live within the real world and conduct the

by-laws which govern the day to day workings of the Trustees, when acting on

behalf of our Fellowship.

From: "Arthur"

Date: Fri Apr 9, 2004 12:32 pm

Subject: RE: [AAHistoryLovers] Traditions applied to GSO?

The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts are spiritual

principles that are supposed to be practiced by AA as whole (i.e. members,

groups, districts, central offices, areas, regions, GSOs, Conferences, etc.,

etc.). That’s how we pass on the Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and

Service throughout the Fellowship.

Following is an abbreviated timeline of the evolution of the GSO in NY (which

in its early days was called the “NY Headquarters” office):

Aug 11, 1938: the Alcoholic Foundation was established as a charitable trust

with a board of 5 Trustees (in Language of the Heart 61, Bill W said it

started with 7 Trustees). Non-alcoholic board members were Willard (Dick)

Richardson (who proposed the Foundation) Frank Amos and John E F Wood. One of

the early challenges facing Wood was legally defining the difference between

an alcoholic and non-alcoholic. (Language of the Heart, pg 61) Alcoholic board

members were Dr Bob and NY member William (Bill) Ruddell (whose Big Book story

is A Business Man’s Recovery). Bill R was the first Board Chairman but

returned to drinking and resigned in Feb 1939. The board composition began a

long (and later troublesome) tradition of making non-alcoholics a majority. An

advisory committee to the board was also established. It consisted of A LeRoy

Chipman, Bill W, Albert L Scott and Hank P. (AA Comes of Age 151-152, Lois

Remembers 197, Not God 66, 307, 330, Pass It On 188 -- Not God 330 end note

states that the AA Comes of Age date and Amos’ date of Aug 5 are in error

and gives the date as Spring 1938, Language of the Heart 142 and AA Comes of

Age 15 say Spring of 1938).

Feb 8, 1940: John D Rockefeller Jr. held a dinner for AA at the Union League

Club. 75 out of 400 invited guests attended. Nelson Rockefeller hosted the

dinner in the absence of his ill father. The dinner produced much favorable

publicity for AA. It also raised $2,200 ($29,000 today) from the attendees

($1,000 from Rockefeller). Rockefeller and the dinner guests continued to

provide about $3,000 a year ($34,000 today) up to 1945 when they were asked to

stop contributing. The Alcoholic Foundation received the donations and income

from sales of the Big Book. (Lois Remembers 197, AA Comes of Age viii,

182-187, Not God 92-94, Pass It On 232-235).

Mar 1, 1941: Jack Alexander's Saturday Evening Post article was published. The

publicity caused 1941 membership to jump from around 2,000 to 8,000. Bill and

two other members’ pictures appeared full-face in the article. (AA Comes of

Age viii, 35-36, 190-191, Language of the Heart 149-150, Pass It On 245-247)

The article, led to over 6,000 appeals for help to be mailed to Box 658 for

the NY Office to handle. (Service Manual S7, Pass It On 249) The NY office

asked groups to donate $1 ($12 today) per member for support of the office.

This began the practice of financing the NY office operations from group

donations. (AA Comes of Age 112, 192, Language of the Heart 149, SM S7)

1945: The Alcoholic Foundation wrote to John D Rockefeller, Jr. and the 1940

dinner guests that AA no longer needed their financial help. Big Book

royalties could look after Dr Bob and Bill W and Group contributions could pay

the general office expenses. This ended all “outside contributions” to AA.

(AA Comes of Age 203-204)

1950: AA members were asked to donate $2 per year ($15 today) to support the

NY office. (Language of the Heart 159)

1958 General Service Conference Advisory Action: The suggestion of the name

change from General Service Hq. to General Service Office be adopted. (M-39)

The earliest written reference would likely be the long form of Tradition Nine

which states the following:

Each A.A. group needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is

the best. The small group may elect its Secretary, the large group its

Rotating Committee, and the groups of a large Metropolitan area their Central

or Intergroup Committee, which often employs a full-time Secretary. The

trustees of the General Service Board are, in effect, our A.A. General Service

Committee. They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of

voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our A.A. General Service

Office at New York. They are authorized by the groups to handle our over-all

public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our principle newspaper,

"The A.A. Grapevine." All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit

of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants

of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not

govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.

Page S69 in the 2003-2004 Service Manual states the following:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: According to the Seventh Tradition, every group should be

self-supporting, and the Tradition includes such pooled services as those

provided by G.S.O. A.A. World Services has two sources of revenue: group

contributions and income from the publishing operation. For reporting

purposes, activities at G.S.O. are lumped into two categories: service and

publishing expense. In the past, A.A. groups have contributed enough to cover

about two-thirds of the service expenses (services provided to all registered

groups, whether or not they make a contribution). The rest was covered by

publishing income, which was in excess of that required for publishing

expenses.

In 1986, the General Service Board asked for a special effort to inform the

Fellowship of the dangers inherent in this situation; particularly that a

substantial fraction of the publishing income now comes from outside sources.

The effort was begun to inform the groups about this growing problem. The

challenge was to make G.S.0.S service work self-supporting through

contributions of the membership and to sell literature at cost to everyone.

The number and extent of group services have increased over the years, but the

real cost of service per group has decreased consistently owing to the growth

of the Fellowship. However, all groups do not contribute to the support of the

service work. About one-half do not. This places a heavier burden on the

groups that do. More important than the dollar amount of contributions,

however, is group participation in this part of A.A. service work, as in the

other activities that make groups members of the A.A. community. Making

regular contributions to world services ties a group to A.A. worldwide.

Many groups have found it convenient to set up a regular contribution plan

whereby they send in a predetermined percentage each month or each quarter.

For part of this â€" or to make additions to it - they use various methods.

The Birthday Plan is one: On their A.A. birthdays each year, group members

make their personal contributions (through group treasuries) on the basis of

$1.00 for each year of sobriety. G.S.O. will send special Birthday Plan

envelopes on request.

Many groups have their own ways of getting their regular or special

contributions together. In Memoriam contributions honor the memory of a

deceased member. Of course contributions of this type, like those of any

other, can be accepted from A.A. members only. In keeping with the Traditions,

G.S.O. accepts contributions only from A.A. members, groups or other A.A.

entities. Furthermore, the General Service Conference limits individual

contributions to $2,000 per year. This limit also applies to a one-time

bequest of $2,000 in the wills of deceased members.

Arthur

From: "Dean @ e-AA"

Date: Fri Apr 9, 2004 5:46 pm

Subject: Re: [AAHistoryLovers] Traditions applied to GSO?

GSO belongs to AA World Services, Inc., one of the two operating

corporations "owned" by the General Service Board of Trustees. (The other

corporation being the AA Grapevine, Inc.)

The Steps, Traditions (short form), and Concepts all appear in the GSB

bylaws. Here are some snippets from the bylaws:

"The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., now has but one

primary purpose, that of serving the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous."

"The General Service Board in its deliberations and decisions shall be

guided by the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. ..."

"The General Service Board also shall be guided by the spirit of the Twelve

Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous. ..."

The GSB bylaws are included in the "AA Service Manual."

-- Dean C.

Monterey Peninsula, California

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++++Message 1748. . . . . . . . . . . . Reference to "As Bill Sees It"

From: Sheila . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/14/2004 6:59:00 AM

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In the Book "As Bill Sees It" there are several referenced footnotes

to "A.A. Today". However, I cannot find any info or links to this

literature. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks

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++++Message 1749. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Reference to "As Bill Sees It"

From: Arthur Sheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/17/2004 6:35:00 PM

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Hi Sheila

"AA Today" was the first book published by the AA Grapevine. It was unveiled

in 1960 at the 25th Anniversary Convention in Long Beach, CA. The book was an

album styled volume containing original pictures and articles by Bill W, AA

pioneers and early surviving AA friends.

Similar (but smaller sized) books were published in the anniversary years of

1985 ("50 Years With Gratitude") and 1995 ("AA Everywhere - Anywhere").

Arthur

----- Original Message -----

To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 6:59 AM

Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Reference to "As Bill Sees It"

In the Book "As Bill Sees It" there are several referenced footnotes

to "A.A. Today". However, I cannot find any info or links to this

literature. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks

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++++Message 1750. . . . . . . . . . . . New Update of "A Narrative Timeline of

AA History"

From: Arthur Sheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/17/2004 8:48:00 PM

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Hi AA History Lovers

For those of you who are familiar with Archie M's "Timelines in AA History

(1864 - present)" - his basic research data was used some time ago as a

starting point to develop an expanded chronology with added narrative and

reference sources. It is titled "A Narrative Timeline of AA History" and will

be sent, in PDF file format, to any member of AA History Lovers who replies to

this message. If you desire a copy of the timeline, please be careful to reply

only to ArtSheehan@msn.com and not to AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com.

Otherwise Nancy O, our moderator, will get burdened with the replies.

The timeline document is marked "confidential" and is intended for AA members

and serious AA history researchers only. It contains last names and this

version should not be publicly posted. There is also a "public" version of the

document that can be posted on a web site and be distributed to the general

public (last names have been reduced to last initial).

Arthur

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From: Jaime Maliachi . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2004 4:12:00 PM

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*

bold;">Bill W. Told us in A.A. comes

pictures were required by editors.

*Somebody

knows who were the A. A. members that gave the face in that event?*

*Some body

has any image about?*

*

bold;"> *

12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;">Jaime F. Maliachi Pedrote.*

*

12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;">servidor y amigo.*

12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;">57 85 68 00 57 85 68

26*

*

12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;">fax 57 85 68 44*

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++++Message 1760. . . . . . . . . . . . Trip to the Lois Wilson Picnic,

Leaving from Berkeley Heights NJ, 6/5/04

From: Lash, William (Bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/20/2004 7:43:00 AM

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JOIN US FOR A TRIP TO THE ANNUAL 2004 LOIS WILSON PICNIC

At Stepping Stones

(where Bill & Lois Wilson lived from 1941 until they died)

62 Oak Road, Bedford Hills (Katonah), NY

Stepping Stones contact number is 914-232-7368.

Saturday, June 5, 2004

House & Wit's End is open for viewing at 12noon.

AA (someone who knew Bill Wilson), Alanon, & Alateen speakers meeting begins

at 2pm.

Only coffee, soda, & dessert will be served at the house so we will be

We are meeting at:

The Union Village United Methodist Church

1130 Mountain Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ

We will be leaving from Berkeley Heights at EXACTLY 10:45am.

For more info or to call the day of the trip please contact Barefoot Bill at

732-939-5907 (cell).

Directions to The Union Village United Methodist Church (10:45am start):

Traveling Rt. 22 West take Watchung Ave - VA Hospital Exit. Proceed straight

on Watchung Ave. to traffic circle. Make first right then immediate left

toward Berkeley Heights. The Union Village Methodist Church is approximately 3

miles on Hillcrest Rd. before blinking red light.

Traveling Rt. 22 East take Watchung Ave. exit, make the first right and go

over Rt. 22 to the red light. Turn left onto Watchung Ave. and follow

directions above.

Traveling Rt. 78 West take Exit 40 and make a right a yield sign. Proceed

straight on Hillcrest Rd. for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Church is on the

right before blinking light.

Traveling Rt. 78 East take Exit 40 and make a left at stop sign. Proceed

straight on Hillcrest Rd. for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Church is on the

right before blinking light.

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++++Message 1761. . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Isadore Tuerk - Compiled

From: NMOlson@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/21/2004 4:11:00 AM

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This is a compilation of posts about Isadore Tuerk:

The Alcoholics Anonymous West Baltimore Group began in 1947. It's website

mentions a Dr. Tuerk.

"One of the members approached Dr. Tuerk, who was in charge of the state

mental institutions and was given permission to bring alcoholic patients to

the meetings in Charlie C's home."

You can read more about the West Baltimore Group at this website:

Alcoholics Anonymous West Baltimore Group, alcoholism, recovery, aa, AA,

health [30]

Last week I attended the NCADD-Maryland Tuerk Conference where I spoke on AA

history. The following was in the first page of the program book for the

conference:

REMEMBERING DR. TUERK

Isadore Tuerk, a psychiatrist who served as Maryland's Mental Health

Commissioner for eight years, died of heart failure at the age of 81 on

February 26, 1989. A native of Baltimore, Dr. Tuerk oversaw the state's

mental hospital system from 1960 to 1968 before leaving public service, and

continued practicing psychiatry and teaching at the University of Maryland

and Johns Hopkins medical schools.

Dr. Tuerk grew up in the neighborhood around the School of Medicine, and

first came into contract with the school as a child when he delivered

clothes made by his tailor father. A 1924 graduate of Baltimore City

College, Dr. Tuerk completed undergraduate studies at Hopkins and received

his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1934. He served in the

U.S. Army during World War II as a division psychiatrist in the European

Theatre, was awarded a bronze star and was discharged in 1946 as a

lieutenant colonel.

As a public servant, he fought for more dollars for the state's mental

hospitals and pioneered group therapy techniques for alcoholics. All were

welcome to the Saturday morning sessions he launched at Spring Grove State

mental Hospital where he became a staff psychiatrist in 1939 and

superintendent 10 years later. Even street people sometimes showed up for

the sessions. His son Jonathan recollected that Dr. Tuerk only once threw

someone out of the sessions - a man who came in with a bottle of whiskey.

"It was the only time he ever kicked somebody out of the group and years

later he kept asking whether that was the right thing to do."

Dr. Tuerk was an honorary member of the Maryland Society on Alcoholism

Treatment and was named its Man of the Year in 1957. Tuerk House, an

alcoholic treatment center, formerly a University of Maryland drug and

alcohol abuse treatment center, was named in his honor in 1970. He retired

in 1986.

Gold Key and Honor Award in 1981. He was a faithful caller in the Annual

Phonothon, spreading his enthusiasm to the other participants. In 1987, he

received the Medical Alumni Association Service Award for having contributed

the most time making Phonothon calls. In November 1988, he was disappointed

that his health prevented him from taking part. He was loved and admired by

all those whose lives he touched. The Alumni office staff remembers him as

soft spoken, warm and caring.

Nancy Olson

Moderator

__________

From: kyyank@aol.com [31]

Date: Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:44am

Subject: Re: [AAHistoryLovers] Dr. Isadore Tuerk

I came across some information that may be useful in the

research of my book "SILKWORTH- The Little Doctor Who Loved

Drunks" that is listed in the back section. Note particularly

the collection of articles from that period of time.

Dale Mitchel

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++++Message 1763. . . . . . . . . . . . LSD use by AA members in AA History.

- Compiled

From: NMOlson@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/21/2004 4:07:00 AM

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From: WCompWdsUnl@aol.com [32]

Date: Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:52 am

Subject: LSD use by AA members in AA History.

Dear AA History Lovers:

In "Pass It On," Bill Wilson's historical documentation of the

actual history of the AA movement, from it's inception, Bill

Wilson records an entire chapter, Chapter 23; Anything that

helps Alcoholics...Bill experiments with LSD but eventually

ceases when controversy stirs within AA. (This chapter describes

how the pioneers of AA, used LSD, to wean or taper, chronic

alcoholics to sobriety.) This is a phenomena similar to the

modern day recovery of heroin addicts, using methadone. (Pages

368 - 378.)

Can anyone provide further information related to the history of

the use of LSD by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, with

Alcoholic's, in AA?

Larry W.

Atlanta, GA

From: "Alex H." [33]

Date: Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:13am

Subject: Re: [AAHistoryLovers] LSD use by AA members in AA

History.

occurred .... LSD initially was looked upon as a beneficial

drug. I am not sure how much was known at the time of its

potential for abuse. That is what I mean by finding out about

the context of the

time. How did normal folks look at LSD at the time?

Alex

From Arthur S:

First off the book Pass It On is a biography not an

autobiography â€" it’s about Bill W not by Bill W.

The primary author of Pass It On is Mel B who is also a

member of AAHistoryLovers.

The functional comparison to methadone and heroin is a

bit of a stretch. The intent of the LSD experiments was

to induce DTs. If anything, it would likely fall into

the class of "aversion therapy." Also, there is no

linkage of Dr Bob to LSD in Pass It On. There were

postings in February on the topic under the subject of

"Humphrey Osmond." The response I sent in follows:

------ Feb response ------

There are a few other books that go in to the LSD

experiments in more detail than Not God. Mel, by the

way, is the modest and primary author of Pass It On

which covers the matter in some detail. Francis

Hartigan's book Bill W and Nell Wing’s book Glad to

Have Been There offer information as well. The info

below is a composite extract:

British radio commentator Gerald Heard introduced Bill

W to Aldous Huxley and to the British psychiatrists

Humphry Osmond and Abraham Hoffer (the founders of

orthomolecular psychiatry). Humphrey and Osmond were

working with schizophrenic and alcoholic patients at a

Canadian hospital.

Bill W joined with Heard and Huxley and first took LSD

in California on Aug 29, 1956. It was medically

supervised by psychiatrist Sidney Cohen of the Los

Angeles VA hospital. The LSD experiments occurred well

prior to the "hippie era." At the time, LSD was thought

to have psychotherapeutic potential (research was also

being funded by the National Institutes of Health and

National Academy of Sciences).

The intent of Osmond and Hoffer was to induce an

experience akin to delirium tremens (DTs) in hopes that

it might shock alcoholics from alcohol.

Among those invited to experiment with LSD (and who

accepted) were Nell Wing, Father Ed Dowling, (possibly)

Sam Shoemaker and Lois Wilson. Marty M and Helen W

(Bill's mistress) and other AA members participated in

NY (under medical supervision by a psychiatrist from

Roosevelt Hospital).

Bill had several experiments with LSD up to 1959

(perhaps into the 1960's). Pass It On reports that

there were repercussions within AA over these

activities. Lois was a reluctant participant and

claimed to have had no response to the chemical.

Hoffer and Osmond did research that later influenced

Bill, in Dec 1966, to enthusiastically embrace a

campaign to promote vitamin B3 (niacin - nicotinic

acid) therapy. It created Traditions issues within the

Fellowship and caused a bit of an uproar.

The General Service Board report accepted by the 1967

Conference recommended that "to insure separation of AA

from non-AA matters by establishing a procedure whereby

all inquiries pertaining to B-3 and niacin are referred

directly to an office in Pleasantville, NY in order

that Bill's personal interest in these items not

involve the Fellowship."

Please reference the following for more details:

Pass It On - pgs 368-376, 388-391

Not God - pgs 136-138

Bill W by Francis Hartigan - pgs 9, 177-179

Glad To Have Been There - pgs 81-82

Cheers

From Jared Lobdell:

The idea that Chapter 23 of PIO shows the use of LSD to "taper

off" alcoholics from alcohol in a mode of operations "simular"

to methadone for heroin users does not tally with the chapter or

with anything I know about Bill's use of LSD (or, indeed, with

the present uses of methadone). The fact that methadone is a

maintenance rather than a tapering-off program is not relevant

here, but the apparent inaccuracy on LSD is. It is true that LSD

was considered by some as a possible amethystine in the earlier

days of its development, but it is clear from Chapter 23 (and

the account in the not-now-Conference-approved book by Thomsen)

that what intrigued Bill was the possibility of tapping the

chemical component of classical mystical experiences otherwise

occurring through prayer, fasting, meditation, etc (see esp. p.

375) -- in order to aid in spiritual sobriety (through

ego-deflation etc.). Bill's general rule seems to have been that

spiritual aids (including LSD) might be used, but anything that

would turn AAs away from the spiritual path (valium = alcohol in

a pill, for example) should not. (Of course, improved physical

condition could also be sought, through Niacin etc.) -- Jared

Lobdell

++++Message 1764. . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Alexander Article Picture

From: Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2004 8:55:00 AM

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11.0pt;">

*Saturday Evening Post Inside Spread - March 1, 1941*

Bill's

and others' pictures appeared full-face in the Saturday Evening Post

(See Pass It On page 247) from left to right are:

Horace C

(partial view), Helen P, Tom M, Tom B, Ruth Hock, Bill W, Dick S, Ray W,

Lois

W, Gordon M and Bob F.

photo caption was 'A typical club house discussion group.''

Arthur

----- Original Message

*From:* Jaime Maliachi

*To:* AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com

*Sent:* Monday, April 19, 2004 4:12 PM

*Subject:* [AAHistoryLovers] Jack Alexander Article pictures.

Bill

Evening Post_ article, some

pictures were required by editors.

*Somebody

knows who were the A. A. members that gave the face in that event?*

*Some

* *

F. Maliachi Pedrote.*

*servidory

amigo.*

68 00 57 85 68 26*

*fax

57 85 68 44*

++++Message 1766. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: LSD use by AA members in AA

History. - Compiled

From: Cloydg . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2004 12:33:00 PM

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W.'s LSD experience. It is short, concise and I believe it states his

over-all-thoughts. I found it on the Jeeves Answer Brouser by asking: Bill

Wilson, LSD Therapy. I too believe we AA's should remember, that at that

time LSD(d-lysergic acid diethylamide) was invented; circa 1938. Many

clinical uses were being experimented with to discover cures for many

aliments, depression being one of them. I am hopeful we all keep this in

perspective!

NOTE:

The following text is a transcription of Grinspoon & Bakalar's

of psychotherapy, originally published in Current Psychiatric

Therapies in 1981 (20:275-283). Lester Grinspoon is an Associate

Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University, and James Bakalar

is a Lecturer in Law in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard

Medical School. One error in reference numbering and one in

spelling (a typo) were corrected.

Ron Koster

October, 1996

Lester Grinspoon, M.D.

James B. Bakalar

The Psychedelic Drug Therapies

Between 1950 and the mid-1960s there were more than a thousand clinical

papers (discussing 40,000 patients), several dozen books, and six

international conferences on psychedelic drug therapy. Almost all

publication and most therapeutic practice in this field have now come to an

end, however, as much because of legal and financial obstacles as because of

loss of interest.

There were two main sources of therapeutic involvement. One of these was the

belief of some experimental subjects that, after taking a psychedelic drug,

they were less depressed, anxious, guilty, and angry and more

self-accepting, tolerant, deeply religious, and sensually alert.1 [34] The

other main interest arose from the possibility that therapeutic use could be

made of the powerful psychedelic experiences of regression, abreaction,

intense transference, and symbolic drama in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

As a result, two polar forms of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) therapy

emerged: one emphasized the mystical or conversion experience and its

aftereffects; the other concentrated on exploring the labyrinth of the

unconscious in the manner of psychoanalysis. Psychedelic therapy, as the

first of these was called, involved the use of a large dose of LSD (200 µg

or more) in a single session and was thought to be helpful in reforming

alcoholics and criminals, as well as in improving the lives of normal

people. The second type, psycholytic (literally, mind-loosening) therapy,

required relatively small doses (usually not more than 150 µg) and several

or even many sessions; it was used mainly for neurotic and psychosomatic

disorders.2 [35] ,3 [36]

In the psycholytic procedure, patients may be hospitalized or not; they may

be asked to concentrate on interpretation of the drug-induced visions, on

symbolic psychodrama, on regression with the psychotherapist as a parent

surrogate, or on discharge of tension in physical activity. Props such as

eyeshades, photographs, and objects with symbolic significance are often

used. Music often plays an important part. The theoretical basis of this

kind of psychotherapy is usually some form of psychoanalysis. If birth

experiences are seen as true relivings of the traumatic event, Rank's ideas

may be introduced; if archetypal visions are regarded as genuine

manifestations of the collective unconscious, the interpretations will be

Jungian.

An advantage of psychedelic drugs in exploring the unconscious is that a

fragment of the adult ego usually keeps watch through all the fantasy

adventures. Patients remain intellectually alert and remember their

experiences vividly. They also become acutely aware of ego defenses such as

projection, denial, and displacement as they catch themselves in the act of

creating them. Transference can also be greatly intensified.

Psycholytic therapy has been recommended to speed up psychoanalysis and

psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, especially for people with

excessively strict superegos and a lack of self-esteem. It has also been

used to overcome the resistance of severe chronic neurotics with defenses so

rigid that they would otherwise be inaccessible to treatment.

In practice, many combinations, variations, a special applications with some

of the features of both psycholytic and psychedelic therapy have evolved.

Stanislav Grof regards the form of treatment he developed in Czechoslovakia

as a bridge between psycholytic and psychedelic therapy. The unconscious

material brought into consciousness by LSD is said to incorporate the most

significant events in the patient's emotional life and permit a systematic

exploration of personality along Freudian lines. This is followed by

reliving the birth trauma and then passage into the realm of archetypes and

mystical or transpersonal experience.4 [37]

The Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo has pioneered the use of

psychedelic drugs that do not produce the same degree of perceptual and

emotional disturbance as LSD. Harmaline and ibogaine, which he calls fantasy

enhancers, permit the use of guided fantasy techniques borrowed from Gestalt

therapy to explore unconscious conflicts. The "feeling enhancers," 3,4

methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and the 3-methoxy-4,5 compound (MDMA), give

a heightened capacity for introspection and intimacy along with a temporary

freedom from anxiety and depression.5 [38]

NEUROTIC DISORDERS

One woman described her experience with psycholytic therapy this way:6 [39]

I found that in addition to being, consciously, a loving mother and a

respectable citizen, I was also, unconsciously, a murderess, a pervert, a

cannibal, a sadist, and a masochist. In the wake of these dreadful

discoveries, I lost my fear of dentists, the clicking in my neck and

throat, the arm tensions, and my dislike of clocks ticking in the bedroom.

I also achieved transcendent sexual fulfillment. . . .

At the end of nine sessions, over a period of nine weeks, I was cured of

my hitherto incurable frigidity. And at the end of 5 months, I felt that I

had been completely reconstituted as a human being. I have continued to

feel that way ever since.

These passages were written 3 years after a 5-month period during which she

took LSD 23 times. Before that, she had had 4 years of psychoanalysis, but

it was only after taking LSD that she became fully convinced of the value of

Freud's theories.

Psycholytic therapy has also been reported to be successful in treating

chronic migraine headaches:7 [40]

A 22-year-old woman who had suffered from migraine for 11 years went

through nine LSD sessions. She relived trips to the dentist, her fear when

she was given anesthesia for a tonsillectomy, and her desolation at being

abandoned in a hospital when she was 11 years old. The migraine

disappeared; 3 years later she and her husband wrote that she has felt

less tense, more at peace with herself, and more mature; the migraine

never returned.

Psychedelic drugs can also be used as a treatment for more ordinary forms of

neurotic depression and anxiety and to resolve sexual problems.8 [41] , 9

[42]

Individual case histories, however impressive, can always be questioned;

biases in judging improvement must be considered. Not many studies satisfy

stringent methodological conditions; the most serious deficiencies are

absence of controls and inadequate follow-up. In the case of LSD there is

the special difficulty that a double blind study is impossible, since the

effects of the drug are unmistakable. No form of psychotherapy for neurotics

has ever been able to justify itself under stringent controls, and LSD

therapy is no exception.10 [43] , 11 [44] Most psychiatrists who have done

LSD therapy with neurotics would, however, probably regard all the recorded

controlled experiments as far too brief and superficial to provide a genuine

test, especially where so much may depend on the quality of the therapeutic

relationship.

For LSD therapy, as in psychoanalysis, psychiatrists tend to favor neurotics

with hight intelligence, a genuine wish to recover, a strong ego, and

stable, even if crippling, symptoms. Beyond that, little is clear. Should

the emphasis be on expression of repressed feelings, or working through a

transference attachment to the psychiatrist, or elsewhere? What should the

psychiatrist do during the drug session? How much therapy is necessary in

the intervals between LSD treatments? The fact that there are no general

answers to these questions reflects the complexity of psychedelic drug

effects; for the same reason a dose and diagnosis cannot be specified in the

manner of chemotherapy.

ALCOHOLISM

Assuming that a single overwhelming experience can sometimes change the

self-destructive drinking habits of a lifetime, can psychedelic drugs

consistently produce such an experience?

There is no doubt that LSD often produces powerful immediate effects on

alcoholics; the question is whether these can be reliably translated into

enduring change. Early studies reported dazzling success: about 50% of sever

chronic alcoholics treated with a single high dose of LSD recovered and were