Father of the Problem Child passes
By David Hudson
Staff Writer
“There are experiences that most of us are hesitant to speak about, because they do not conform to everyday reality and defy rational explanation. These are not particular external occurrences, but rather events of our inner lives, which are generally dismissed as figments of the imagination and barred from our memory. Suddenly, the familiar view of our surroundings is transformed in a strange, delightful, or alarming way: it appears to us in a new light, takes on a special meaning. Such an experience can be as light and fleeting as a breath of air, or it can imprint itself deeply upon our minds.”
This block of text was the lead paragraph of Albert Hoffman’s most well-known book, “LSD: My problem child.” In this book he discussed this powerful drug in depth, covering both its benefits and potentially harmful traits, and confessed that it would probably be used long after his death.
Sadly, it seems Hoffman was correct there. The chemist, who was 102 years old as of Jan. 11, died of a heart attack on April 29 according to CNN.com. He was living in Burg im Leimental, Switzerland, at the time of his death.
Hoffman is known for having first synthesized LSD-25 or Lysergic acid diethylamide for you scientific types, in 1938. The 25 means simply that it was the 25th lysergenic acid that he tried synthesizing. Although the drug did not end up being used as a tool for psychiatry as Hoffman first thought it may have been useful for, the drug has definitely had a profound effect on the world. It was a strong part of what fueled the love and anti-war movement of the '60s and although Hoffman didn’t intend for it to be used in such a way when he first synthesized it 30 years early, it was entirely out of his hands at that point.
Hoffman spent a large part of his life lecturing on the drug and also experimenting with similar hallucinogens, providing much data on them for scientists to use for years to come. He lectured on the possible uses of the drug, though he cautioned that it must be taken absolutely seriously or it could easily cause much more damage than harm. Again from his book, “I see the true importance of LSD in the possibility of providing material aid to meditation aimed at the mystical experience of a deeper, comprehensive reality. Such a use accords entirely with the essence and working character of LSD as a sacred drug.”
Whether one takes a stand and has moral reservations against the widely illegal drug or not, it is hard to deny that the passing of the chemist that created LSD is not a serious event. After more than 100 years of life, Mr. Hoffman has finally hung up his hat and left his problem child for the current and future generations to figure out for themselves.