Lucas Richert Bücher

Antipsychiatry, Esalen, psychedelics, and DSM III: Radical challenges to psychiatry and the conventional treatment of mental health in the 1970s.

Examining the boundaries between recreational and medicinal drugs in the eyes of the public and the law.

The late 20th century witnessed intense debates over pharmaceutical regulation, highlighting the clash between product innovation, consumer protection, and market choice. Amid economic challenges in the late 1970s, the drug industry faced significant pressures, with the Food and Drug Administration caught in the crossfire of criticism from both political sides for its regulatory approach. This period marked a critical juncture for policymakers, interest groups, and industry leaders as they navigated the complexities of public health and economic interests.