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Deputy Director/plans

SUBJECT : Transmittal of Scientific Intelligence Hemorandun

. l. Cur studies of unconventional varfare have included for some time ths potential agent, Lysorgic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), which appears to be better adapted than known drugs to both interrogation of prisoners and use against troops or civilians. The Soviet Bloc has the necessary supplies of ergot, from which to synthesize this drug. lioreover, the Eloc is presumably in full possossion of the pertinent information on it since it is comercially available and open literature carries full accownts of experinental use.

2. Because we feel that the matter may be of concern to you, we are forvarding the attached Scientific Intelligence Koaorandua, whici discusscs briefly the intelligence iaplications of LSù. C/sI has in production a detailed atudy on this drug that summorizes the literature on the subject, rocounts the results of nedical experifientation with it, and deals vith its possible synthesis and production. This study, "Stratogic lcdical Significance of Lysergie Acid Diethylnnide (LSD)", will soon be available to those who have a paramount interest in the subject.

00/P1:1870

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

8351

lE-LRADUi TC:

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SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

POTENTIAL NEW AGENT FOR UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) (N, N-Diethyllysergamide)

CIA/SI101-54
5 August 1954

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE

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Scientific Intelligence Memorandum

POTENTLAL NEW AGENT FOR UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) (N, N-Diethyllysergamide)

This memorandun is based on intelligence available as of 1 August l954.

CIA/SI 101-54 :

5 August 1954

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

Office of Scientific Intelligence

440A

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Allen W. Dulles, DCI, 1

. AD/SI, 7

-11.

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POTENTIAL NEW AGENT FOR UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

Lysergic -Acid Diethylamide (LSD) (N,N-Diethyllysergamide)

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (N, N-diethyllysergamide), a drug. derived from ergot, is of great strategic significance as a potential agent in unconventional warfare and in interrogations.\* :In effective doses, LSD is not lethal, nor does it have color, odor or taste. Since the effect of this drug is temporary in contrast to the fatal nerve agents, there are important strategic advantages for its use in certain operations.. Possessing both a wide margin of safety and the requisite physiological properties, it is capable of rendering whole groups of people, including military forces, indifferent to their surrouudiags and situations, interfering with planuing and judgment, and eveu creating apprehension, uncoutrollable corfusion and terror.

Of all substances now knowa to affect the mind, such es mescaline, 'harmine and,others, LSD is' by rar the most potent. Very minute quantities (upwards of 30 millionths of a gram) create serious mental confusion and sensual disturbances, or render the mind temporarily susceptible to many types of influences Administration of the drvg produces in au individual such mental characteristics of schizophrenia as visual or auditory hallucipatioas and physiological reactions of dizziness, nausea, dilation of the pupils, aad lachrymation. Tnese reactious, however, are not necessarily obvious and only a trained observer, after giving payshological tests, may definitely àscertain that a psychogenic drug has been aduinistered. Data, although still very limited, are available which indicate its usefulness for eliciting true and accurate"statemeuts from subjects uader its influence during interrogation. .It also revives memories of past experiences. In at least one case there was complete amnesia of events during the effective period.

To date, no antidote nor specific countersgett is avallable. The effect of LSD may, however, be shortered in duraticu ky the use cf uhlorpromazine, barbiturates, or the intravenons lajection of glucose. Very limited methods of detecticn and identification are known, such as fluoresceuce, ataining and spectrcphctometry. Although the mechanisu of action'or this drug.in the human body is not fully understood, it is nevertheless known to luterfere with the carbohydrate metabolism and to affeet the central gervous systom, certain of the brain hormoues, and other body funotions.,

\*OSI is now completing a detailed study of LSD that will deal with the composition of the drug, its psychogenie propertles, its development, experimental use, and distribution. This study entitled "Strategis Medical Significance of Lysergie Acid Diethylamide (LSD)" will be made evailable to those with a paramount interest in the subject.

-1.

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LSD is a partially synthesized drug and was first prepared by Sandoz Ltd., of Switzerland in l943. The unusually complex synthesis. of the lysergic acid fraction of the drug, attempted by many workers during the past 20 years, has apparently not yet been accomplished by any country. Progress in the synthesis of the drug in the United States is reported to have reached the last and nost difficult stage. Completion of the synthesis will facilitate the rapid solution of many problems, such as that of an effective antidote, stability, more effective derivatives and/or combinations, more accurate dosage ranges, adequate methods of specific detection, dissemination and complete control, for which there are still urgent strategic needs.

The .basic material from which LSD is prepared is ergot and the Soviet Bloc has an abundant supply of it. The preperation.of LSD has been published openly in considerable detail. Further, Sandoz Ltd., has made available free samples of it for clinical testing both in this couutry and in Europe. It is therefore assumed that this material is available to the Bloc inasmuch as no effective geographic limitation is known.

.2-

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The substsnce is too tiick aud too heavy to be manipulated enslly, and t hrrefore, it must be diluted with equial parts 95p alcohol. In tho vial there is usually l.8 frams and therefore l.8 ccs of ethyl alcohol shoule 'be, auded to make a 5o solution. There is no need to worry about the specific density. After dilution the substance should be injcoted as evenly ar possible nlonr the entire length: of the cirarette. The best instrument 1s 1/4 cc tuberculink sprinre and a .22 guage needle l: inches lonf. Insort the needls slour the lon axis of the cigarette and inject slowly meanuhile withdrawine and rotatinr the cirarette at the samg time. Inieet à of the desired anount from one end of the cirarétte and then ullow the ci-arette to shand ou its end for aoproximately 5 minuths and then reprat usin: the other end of the' cicarette. A small minute stain ot the ciraretto paper map appean but 、 this shoula not arouse any suspicion. THI. UH X TUL. SUBOT.CCE

It is not mistntle in sn couequs solution. It in ocst to put it in some soft or fatty substance such às butter or chocolate zinexire icecream. The snbstane is absolu'tl tacteless.

DOCACE

In cach cigarette .O8 ccs of tie colntion hich contains .04 o the substance. fhe cosage by mouth is .02 of the solution wrich contains .Ol ccs of the substance. If the

32

3

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interrogation lasts for a lon period the dosace by inhalation can be repeated as often as necessary, but not more frequently than every half to three quarters of an hour bp inhalation or every two and a half to three hours by instion. It must be pointed out that the dosare sugsested is tho averare. It is pur observation trot if the individual is slicht, tired, or hes not been on s proper diet they aill hove mare resetion than a rell-fod American.

l. Sense of rlkxhst well-being.

2. Increaco in confidener.

5. Feelin" of aiattlity ni rapnort with thd intorrofator.

brivin: necessity t) uiscuss payehol ically charzed topies. mhatever the indlvicual is tryine to withhold will be forceé to the top of his cubconscious mind an: the necescity to discuss th:is lopic is one of the most xk valuotle esrects of thcaterial. (This lnst-sentence isinot based on rcientific foct

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but on observation usinr, the matorisl)

5. Loquacis 6. larked and increuced rate volure of apeech. 1 The following signs and cymptons are consic rsd ne undecirablc and as minor toxic effects: As with ths proceedin list they follow in order of occurrcnce.

1. Thickenin and slurrtn of peech.

2. Loss of control of muscle movements.

3. asthenia.

4. Diffieulty in remerberin evente onl: a few secoude part.

5. Sreutin- ené o fcelinr of warrth. (It is eivisatle t) keen te roon warn co thet rou cen sonelain at thie sare bime of Lein rarm)

7. Vertio ciul li -ttheededness..

8. Bausia, belclta and other ractro-intestinal symptoms, whien ray inelude vomitiir.

The followin toxic results have oecurrcd oul: :it much hicter Cosares tut include marked hypér-activik: anù chyaleal. end audttor: halucinations.

The gubatence las raximum usefulnece snca Lere is a friendly ranport between lie interroator uni lie subicct. It ic sueresled that procedure be carricd out oc far as possiblr in a relaxed and informal social settint. If the subject shoulò begin to shoz hostility, this Is a toxic symptom anc it. soulé be unusual i anrthinc sas -ained fror the

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interview becauce subject usually withdraws at this point. Most people under the effect havo s desine to bonst, pròclaim their ability both in the past cid of chat thry can do in the future. The woat.shoule be made of thle. The interrgrator should encourare any discusei ns along this line. It Is obviously necezanrr for the interro-ator to have a roou back-Fround of the subjeet'e paet and possible future in prder to direct the thurht in the sphere in which the interrogator is most interestec. The creat value of the substanec is that the sutject is not, aware at any tine curin- the actual proceeding that he under thc influence of a drug., liowover, due to the toxic effects which mer oceur it ie wcll to käve come cultable cover story cueh ns s stove in the roon which Fave out obnoxlous fumes thich the intorrorator could cprplain about, or food or axks slcohol which the interrorotor could also conplain caused hin to have peculiar sptoms. In the ideal case this will not be necessary for wtthin on hour alter inhaletlon there shoule be no ill.effects and within 2 hours aud & after ingsstion the subjoct shoule be ntfo to aoaduot himcelf in o norml Tashion. It te Fels : vieable thnat the substance mirht be -iven in ansiher roon and after the interr>- cation sore addibixnol erocedure be undertaken to Leep the subjeet under obsrrvation.