[LSD and Creativity]
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official5333
- Date
- 1967 April 27
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- There are no validated studies to show that creative stimulation results from the use of LSD, Sidney Katz tells teenagers in the May issue of the Canadian Churchman.
- Writing in "Trend," a special youth supplement to the national monthly church paper, Mr. Katz states that the drug LSD does nothing for the unprepared mind.
- "At the very most the claim can be that, in some instances, a highly talented and creative artist, who has mastered the techniques of his art, may derive certain added insights from the chemical," he writes.
- Mr. Katz, well known writer on social affairs, says an LSD user often suffers the delusion that he has become creative under the influence of LSD. "What really happens is that he has lost his critical, discriminating capacity and this enables him to discern genius in his handiwork."
- Mr. Katz, who says he has received confidential information from "anguished relatives and friends about the havoc being wrought by mind-expanding chemicals," predicts more tragedies will occur until teenagers, parents, doctors, clergy and public officials approach the problems realistically.
- Wisely and cautiously used, LSD may prove to be a boon to mankind. It may, in certain carefully selected cases, enhance creativity and religious feeling, he states.
- "But, for the most part," he says, "psychedelic substances are being used destructively. The full story of suicides, accidents, disrupted lives and mental breakdown precipitated by the use of LSD has yet to be told."
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- Subjects
- Drug abuse - Canada
- Drug abuse - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- LSD (Drug) - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada