EDGEWOOD HALLUCINOGEN TESTS

In the 1950’s tensions with the Soviet Union pushed scientists to strive towards pursuing advances in technologies that would be beneficial to war time efforts. While it was a military base, the Edgewood Arsenal facility was described by soldiers to be more like that of a hospital rather than a standard army compound. Soldiers that ended up here were screened to see if they were eligible to partake in study’s and would receive vacation from military duties if they complied, however they were not informed about the true nature of the facility and were subjected to experiments ranging from hallucinogens to nerve agents.

While it was large, the chemical mixing bowl when used in tandem with the dispenser (shown above) was used to expose soldiers to the chemicals while controlling the release of it into the subject’s body. The chemical they were testing/mixing using the contraption was known as “BZ '' which would cause complete stupor for 3 days and memory loss, the goal was to see how effective the different dosages of drugs would work against their most fit and intelligent soldiers. Other participants would be given drugs like LSD in doses 3-10 times greater than the normal dose leaving them feeling incapacitated or laughing uncontrollably. In total the Edgewood Arsenal was responsible for testing on 740 soldiers and 900 civilians.

​

After being exposed to the LSD, soldier Frank Rochelle could recall “animals coming out of the walls” and the freckles on his arm appeared to turn into “bugs” that he tried to scrape away with a razor. Alongside many others they were forced to participate in the experiments and were threatened with jail time and dishonorable leave if they refused. Other soldiers such as Tim Joseph in 1968 remember waking up the next day after exposure to the hallucinogen, he had musculoskeletal issues similar to that of Parkinson’s disease. In one particular instance a group of soldiers were all administered LSD and tasked by a drill sergeant to follow orders, they were sluggish in movement and after a few minutes they would find it difficult to follow orders and would sporadically laugh.

​

Sources:

Martin, David S. “Vets Feel Abandoned after Secret Drug Experiments.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Mar. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/health/human-test-subjects/index.html.

Unclassified Tests on Soldiers with LSD. 1975, i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/02/15/human.test.subjects.-.edgewood.ketchum.lsd.study.pdf.

Hulec, Stephani. “U.S. Military: Edgewood Arsenal Experiments.” Top Medical Device CRO Company, 2012, www.imarcresearch.com/blog/bid/204756/U-S-Military-Edgewood-Arsenal-Experiments.

Pickard, Gabrielle. “The Horrible Edgewood Arsenal Chemical Human Experiments Revisited.” Top Secret Writers, 21 Sept. 2015, www.topsecretwriters.com/2015/09/the-horrible-edgewood-arsenal-chemical-human-experiments-revisited/.

Roswel. “MK ULTRA Realy Did Exist.” Roswell, www.fastdog.karoo.net/mkultra.htm.