New Netflix psychedelics series has prominent Saskatchewan connection

[Editor's note: We do not advocate the use or abuse of illegal substances. Government-approved psychedelic-assisted therapy takes place in carefully-controlled, medically-supervised environments with patients who have been prepared and guided. The recreational use of psychedelics is not addressed in this article.]

A new Netflix series called How to Change Your Mind explores the current renaissance of psychedelic drugs in psychotherapy and includes an interesting Saskatchewan tidbit — the word “psychedelic” was invented by a psychiatrist working in Weyburn.

Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline were at the forefront of psychotherapy research in the 1950s. The results of therapy sessions involving these substances were astounding, leading many advocates to consider psychedelics the future of psychiatry.

One famous proponent was Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Wilson’s experiences with LSD had a profound effect on his life, leading to speculation at one point that AA might incorporate LSD into its program.

Dr. Humphry Osmond was a British psychiatrist who began working at the Saskatchewan Mental Hospital in Weyburn in 1951 as part of premier Tommy Douglas’ healthcare initiatives. He became the clinical director and later superintendent of the hospital.

One of the significant connections Osmond had was with Saskatchewan native Dr. Abram Hoffer, who worked as a researcher in Regina at the Psychiatric Services Branch of the provincial health department.

Hoffer and Osmond’s research, particularly their studies on alcoholism, drew worldwide attention. Their alcohol addiction studies resulted in better recovery rates than any other intervention that has ever been tried.

Aldous Huxley, the English writer, philosopher, and intellectual, contacted Osmond to ask about his research. It was Osmond who guided Huxley on his first mescaline trip in 1953. The result was Huxley’s 1954 book The Doors of Perception, which revolutionized public perception of psychedelics.

Osmond and Huxley remained friends and wrote each other looking for ideas on what to call the class of psychoactive substances Osmond’s program was researching.

“To fathom Hell or go angelic, just take a pinch of PSYCHEDELIC,” Osmond proposed — and the word stuck.

Psychedelic is from the Greek and means mind-revealing. Psychedelic drugs are currently enjoying a comeback in research studies around the world.

How to Change Your Mind on Netflix was made with author Michael Pollan. Pollan’s bestselling 2018 book of the same name — How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence — has helped galvanize renewed interest in psychedelics.

The series explores the history of psychedelics, including the political backlash that led to the drugs being widely outlawed.