The photo above and article below were published in the Powell River News on February 5, 1970.
Impure LSD $5 in Powell River (Cost price: 75 cents)
Impure LSD capsules are being purchased for 75 cents and resold in Powell River for four or five dollars, a Powell River doctor told 400 persons at a Drug Alert meeting in Dwight Hall last night.
Dr. David C. Hosgood said LSD sold in Powell River contains the poison strychnine, which has a lift effect when taken in small doses and often contains very little LSD. He said there have been court cases where the LSD was found to be so impure they could not prosecute.
Other drugs with LSD are codeine and amphetamine.
“The kids around here haven’t a clue what they are getting,” he told The News after the meeting. “The kids say different doses vary in their effect.”
“Vomiting and headaches are common side effects,” he said. “Usually they would get headaches from pure LSD.”
Dr. Hosgood estimated there have been between 10 and 15 persons hospitalized from drugs in the last 18 months.
“They usually come in with depression or something else,” he said. “They are brought in because people with them do not know what is happening.”
He told the meeting the people who sell drugs do not think of the effect they have on people.
“I am sure that if these people could see the bad cases we have in hospital there would be a lot fewer drug users in Powell River,” he said. “One thing that galls me is to hear from people that they pay four or five dollars for a capsule of LSD and you know that the people who bring it in pay 75 cents a capsule.”
He said most drug problems evolve around the family unit and suggested that the best way for parents to get results is to set a good example.
He said there are a lot of parents who will not admit that their child takes drugs.
“A lot of parents want to help but there are lots of parents who know their child smokes marijuana and some even join in themselves.”
Dr. Hosgood said drug users tend to be more excitable and talkative, the eyes tend to be glazed and red and the user tends to stay out later.
“Lots of youngsters have tried LSD and marijuana and have had no side effects,” he said. “They do not see the bad ones.
He suggested that parents should openly discuss drugs and alcohol in the home.
“Do not poo-hoo their ideas,” he said. “They know more about it than you do.”
Dr. Hosgood made his comments while answering a question during the discussion following a speech by Vancouver pharmacist Archie Baker.
