This study investigates how LSD and the psychedelic experience was recieved by the Swedish society and in particular how it was depicted by the swedish printed news media. The investigation spans from the first depiction of LSD in 1948 to the end of the 1960’s when interest and prevalence waned.

A thorough statistical presentation of the quantity and bias of the news articles is presented from which a chronological narrative is derived. 

The study shows that the psychedelic experience was overwhelmingly negatively depicted with little variation depending on the political stances of the publications. The coverage was very sparse up until 1965 when interest exploded driven by reports of anglo-american culture and scientific cautionary reports. 

Only a couple of isolated individuals propagated for potential benefits, in particular the artist Öyvind Fahlström and psychological scientist Björn Netz. 

The study proposes that the initial news coverage cultivated a very negative view of psychedelics among the general populace which would last for decades.