In the Name of Science:A look at Project MKUltra

By: John Dias (ENC3241)

Overview

Project MKUltra was a codename of a covert United States research program experimenting in behavioral engineering.

MKUltra used various techniques and chemicals on test subjects (mostly the drug Lysergic Acid Diethylamide or “LSD”).

Origins of MKUltra

The program’s origins began in 1950 and was halted in 1973.

The program was very widespread. Research was done at 80 institutions with 44 of those being various universities and colleges.

The Central Intelligence Agency used fronts to disguise the real operation.

CIA Director Allen Dulles officially launched the project on April 13, 1953.

Purpose

The purpose of the project was to develop mind-controlling drugs to use during World War II.

The project was launched in response to alleged Chinese, Soviet, and North Korean use of mind control techniques on U.S. POWs.

The CIA wanted to be able to manipulate foreign leaders, and even planned scenarios to drug Fidel Castro.

Purpose cont’d

In 1964, the project was retitled to MKSEARCH. This project was developed to produce a “truth drug” to use in interrogations against enemy soldiers.

The Navy also had a plan to use sub aural frequencies to try and erase the memories of their targets.

Why LSD?

Early efforts focused on the effects of the drug LSD and heavy research continued throughout the duration of the project.

The CIA wanted to gain information if it was possible to make Russian spies defect against their will.

What is LSD?

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (also known as LSD or acid) is a synthetic drug which is known for altering the psyche of it’s users.

LSD was first crafted in 1938.

LSD can trigger panic attacks, anxiety, seizures, and can alleviate pain.

Some studies suggested that LSD could even treat alcoholism.

Experiments

Various biological and chemical processes were used.

The drugs used included:Heroin

Morphine

MDMA

Mescaline

All drugs were used to determine if they could extract information from their test subject.

Hypnosis to heighten the patient’s senses and to potentially retrieve information from against their will.

Experiments in Canada

A Canadian scientist, Donald Cameron, who wanted to cure schizophrenia by erasing the memory.

Cameron would use various drugs, including LSD, to place patients into comas.

One patient went into a coma for three months.

His treatments resulted in victims having amnesia, speech disorders, and long-term memory loss.

Lack of Informed Consent

The biggest issue the government faced was the lack of informed consent on the people they performed experiments on unknowingly.

The government was able to avoid most legal issues, but a few plaintiffs were able to receive compensation.

Victim Testimonieshttp://youtu.be/iflBkRlpRy0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGQQ4Rkbyfk

Disclosure

All MKUltra documents were destroyed in 1973 during the Watergate scandal.

The destruction of the documents made a full investigation of MKUltra nearly impossible.

The New York Times claimed that the CIA conducted experiments on U.S. citizens.

A Canadian News Show, The Fifth Estate, exposed MKUltra in 1984. They claimed that the Canadian government knew of all experiments.

Dr. Cameron’s records were all destroyed after his death.

Works Cited"Chapter 3: Supreme Court Dissents...." hss.doe.gov. Office of Health, Safety, and Security. Web. 7 Apr 2013. <http://www.hss.doe.gov/healthsafety/ohre/roadmap/achre/chap3_4.html."CIA Research in Behavior Modification." (Hosted on NY Times). Committee on Human Resources, 08 August 1977. Web. 7 Apr 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/13inmate_ProjectMKULTRA.pdf>.Elizabeth Nickson (October 16, 1994). "MIND CONTROL: MY MOTHER, THE CIA AND LSD". The Observer.