Research abuses against people of colour and other vulnerable groups in early psychedelic research

Abstract

There is a growing resurgence in the study of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. However, certain early investigations are marred by questionable research methods, abuses against research participants, and covert Central Intelligence Agency financial involvement. The purpose of this study was to understand how and to what extent people of colour and other vulnerable populations, specifically, individuals who were incarcerated or incapacitated due to mental health issues (inpatients with psychotic disorders), were exploited during the first wave of psychedelic research in the USA (1950–1980). To do so, we reviewed available empirical publications according to current ethical standards. Variables of interest included race and ethnicity of participants, population vulnerability, drug administration conditions, informed consent and undue influence. Our findings draw attention to the history of research abuses against people of colour in Western psychedelic research. In light of these findings, we urge a call-to-action to current psychedelic researchers to prioritise culturally inclusive and socially responsible research methods in current and future studies.

The Need for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Black Community and the Burdens of Its Provision

“…At the same time, scientists were studying these compounds, and clinical researchers were finding positive medicinal effects of psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. These investigations yielded valuable information, though often from unwitting participants of color through government-funded research ( 15 ). The CIA actively studied the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other mind-altering drugs to assess their use as agents of mind-control and psychological torture in over a hundred experiments under a project labeled MK Ultra ( 15 ).…”

“…These investigations yielded valuable information, though often from unwitting participants of color through government-funded research ( 15 ). The CIA actively studied the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other mind-altering drugs to assess their use as agents of mind-control and psychological torture in over a hundred experiments under a project labeled MK Ultra ( 15 ). Often in the setting of prisons and hospitals, the limits of these substances were explored in test subjects who were not provided the courtesy of informed consent nor had the power to decline.…”

“…Often in the setting of prisons and hospitals, the limits of these substances were explored in test subjects who were not provided the courtesy of informed consent nor had the power to decline. Strauss and colleagues ( 15 ) in a recent review have documented the unjust and inhumane utilization of primarily Black racialized, incarcerated men and others institutionalized as psychiatric patients in numerous questionable experiments with shoddy and unethical methods.…”

“…Further, as described in an account by MAPS themselves ( 122 ), proper care was not taken to protect the identity of former participants in the MAPS studies, one of whom attended the event as a participant but whose study video was shown to the group without consulting her beforehand. It was traumatic for the participant to see herself on screen, and this triggered fears in participants of color reminiscent of research abuses such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study ( 15 , 122 ). As a result, the landmark event was stymied, and some participants felt unsafe, with a few leaving before it was over.…”

Global bioethical challenges of medicalising psychedelics

“…Concerningly, to date there is a paucity of literature published in bioethics journals regarding ethical considerations brought about by psychedelic medicalisation. For example, the BMJ's Journal of Medical Ethicsarguably the bioethics journal with the highest impact in the field (Bioethics Research Library, 2016)has at the time of writing this manuscript only three publications relating to psychedelic bioethics (Miceli McMillan, 2020;Smith & Sisti, 2020;Strauss, de la Salle, Sloshower, & Williams, 2021). The relative lack of research output from an academic discipline that aims to investigate normative issues relating to medical and life sciences (Chadwick, 2019) is surprising.…”