I actually have seen a person on a bad trip run out into a street without looking for oncoming cars. That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, because I know and love the person who did that. And, indeed, many people are quite wary of their friends and loved ones using psychedelic drugs because they have observed other friends and loved ones experience bad outcomes from using those drugs. Medical doctors who work in emergency rooms have more been-there, done-thats on this issue than I have.
On a statistical, national population level, it does appear that alcohol (legal but regulated) is more dangerous to more people than LSD (currently basically illegal). But individual personal risk profiles vary, and I would not want LSD (for example) to be more readily available to the general public than the typical prescription medicine. If a knowledgeable physician prescribes LSD for an indication for which LSD is generally safe and effective, then fine, but I hope nobody I hope to see live a long and healthy life is obtaining LSD from current "street" dealers or "friends."
On the broader topic of drug regulation, there does appear to be some cross-national evidence to suggest that "decriminalization" (which is not the same thing as "legalization") may help set up systems of drug regulation that actually reduce societal use of dangerous drugs, which sounds like a very good idea to me. Let doctors figure out what each kind of drug is good for, and let most members of the general public pursue a typically sober lifestyle and pursue new ideas and creative thoughts in their right minds.
"I actually have seen a person on a bad trip run out into a street without looking for oncoming cars."
And I have seen people do this when they weren't on any drugs (not to mention those who were drunk on perfectly legal and socially respectable alcohol).
Sometimes it was because they were listening to an iPod and were so wrapped up in their own thoughts and the music that they were oblivious to what was going on around them.
Comments
I actually have seen a person on a bad trip run out into a street without looking for oncoming cars. That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, because I know and love the person who did that. And, indeed, many people are quite wary of their friends and loved ones using psychedelic drugs because they have observed other friends and loved ones experience bad outcomes from using those drugs. Medical doctors who work in emergency rooms have more been-there, done-thats on this issue than I have.
On a statistical, national population level, it does appear that alcohol (legal but regulated) is more dangerous to more people than LSD (currently basically illegal). But individual personal risk profiles vary, and I would not want LSD (for example) to be more readily available to the general public than the typical prescription medicine. If a knowledgeable physician prescribes LSD for an indication for which LSD is generally safe and effective, then fine, but I hope nobody I hope to see live a long and healthy life is obtaining LSD from current "street" dealers or "friends."
On the broader topic of drug regulation, there does appear to be some cross-national evidence to suggest that "decriminalization" (which is not the same thing as "legalization") may help set up systems of drug regulation that actually reduce societal use of dangerous drugs, which sounds like a very good idea to me. Let doctors figure out what each kind of drug is good for, and let most members of the general public pursue a typically sober lifestyle and pursue new ideas and creative thoughts in their right minds.
"I actually have seen a person on a bad trip run out into a street without looking for oncoming cars."
And I have seen people do this when they weren't on any drugs (not to mention those who were drunk on perfectly legal and socially respectable alcohol).
Sometimes it was because they were listening to an iPod and were so wrapped up in their own thoughts and the music that they were oblivious to what was going on around them.
Perhaps we should make iPods illegal.