Break On Through

Break On Through: Radical Psychiatry and the American Counterculture In the 1970s, mainstream psychiatry faced significant challenges from within. A "Radical Caucus" emerged, questioning the status quo and leading to a decade of disruption in the treatment of mental health. Critics argued that the medical establishment was complicit with powerful interests, while patients and practitioners explored new approaches, including the therapeutic use of psychedelics. This book delves into the radical challenges to psychiatry during this period, drawing on archives, government documents, and interviews. It examines the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, the rise of New Age-style therapies, and the creation of DSM III. The author also explores the intersection of mental health with anti-war activism and the use of LSD, cannabis, and MDMA. The lessons from this period remain relevant today, as debates over medical marijuana and microdoses of psychedelics echo those of the 1970s. Break On Through offers a fascinating account of radical mental health practices, shedding light on the complexities of this pivotal moment in American history.