LSD Abuse: Effects, Dangers & Symptoms

LSD (acid) abuse can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. You may even be wondering is acid addictive. Learn more about it and how to get help.

Created in the 1930s by scientists, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also commonly known as acid, is a potent hallucinogenic drug. The effects of acid often alter one’s perceptions, thoughts, and mood. A person using LSD might experience brighter colors, unusual shapes, and feel unusually excited or content with life.

One of the most serious dangers of LSD comes from having a “bad trip” or an extremely distressing experience with the drug. When this happens a person may experience frightening perceptions, have impaired judgment, and be unable to think clearly.

What is LSD?

LSD is a human-made (synthetic) drug that comes from a chemical derived from ergot, which is a type of fungus that grows on the rye grain. Common street names for LSD include Mellow Yellow, window pane, white lightning, and sugar cubes.

LSD is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that it has no acceptable medical use and a high risk for abuse. It is currently illegal in the United States because of the chance of acid addiction.

How Is LSD Used?

LSD is a colorless liquid or white crystalline powder. The pure form is very potent, so a tiny amount is often transferred onto something else, such as a small, thin square of blotter paper or gelatin chip (window pane). When the square or chip is placed on the tongue or swallowed, the drug is released into your system. LSD also comes in capsules, pills, or liquid.

How Does LSD Work?

LSD has a high affinity for serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that controls mood, emotions, and sensory perception. Serotonin is known as the body’s “feel good” chemical because it contributes to feelings of happiness.

Researchers believe that LSD attaches to serotonin receptors in the brain. When a person takes LSD, it reacts with these receptors to trigger euphoria, produce hallucinogenic effects, and alter perception.

Short-Term Effects

The effects of LSD are called a “trip”. A trip can include both emotional and physical effects. Most of the time, the effects are pleasurable, but in some cases, a trip can be unpleasant.

LSD effects can vary widely from person to person and even on different occasions for the same person. Effects are impacted by:

How often a person takes LSD
How large of a dose was taken
How it is taken
A person’s age
A person’s state of mind at the time they took LSD

LSD can affect a person’s emotions, perceptions, and physical body.

Emotional and Perceptual Effects

LSD use can cause many perceptual and emotional changes, such as:

A sense of bliss or euphoria
Perceptual distortions
Impaired depth perception
A feeling of closeness to others
A sense of greater mental clarity
Changes in mood and behavior
Visual and auditory hallucinations (sensations or noises that seem real but aren’t)
Impaired judgment
A feeling of detachment from one’s body
Lowered inhibitions
Difficulty concentrating

Physical Effects

The physical effects of LSD can include:

Fast or irregular heartbeat
Rapid breathing
Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Confusion
Increased blood pressure
Sleeplessness
Loss of appetite
Chills and sweating
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Weakness

The effects of LSD usually occur within 60 minutes of taking the drug and peak within four hours. They can last for nine to 12 hours.

Long-Term Effects

Some people who regularly use it may experience the following:

Flashbacks (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder) – Flashbacks occur when a person re-experiences the effects of LSD long after it has worn off (even years later). Flashbacks may be in the form of involuntary perceptual distortions or visual hallucinations. Many people find them disturbing.
Tolerance – Over time, a person can develop a tolerance to LSD, needing larger doses of the drug to achieve the same results. This can increase the risk of overdose.

Dangers of Acid Addiction

One of the biggest dangers of LSD lies in the unpredictability of the “trip.” A person may experience a bad trip even if they take LSD in small doses. This can happen even if they have previously used LSD with no problem. A bad trip is similar to psychosis. It can include frightening hallucinations, distorted perceptions, and troubling thoughts. It can cause panic and paranoia. A person experiencing a bad trip may engage in harmful behaviors or violence.

A bad trip can be lengthy, lasting up to 24 hours in some cases. It can be dangerous if it worsens a pre-existing condition, like a heart problem, or if it causes unsafe behaviors like self-harm or running in traffic. Most LSD-related deaths occur from accidents or suicides that occur during a bad trip.

While LSD overdoses are very rare, severe physical effects can occur if it is taken at very high doses or mixed with other substances. These symptoms include:

Tremors
Seizures
Coma
Breathing problems or respiratory arrest
Loss of consciousness
Hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature)

If you experience any of the above issues or witness them in someone else, call 911 (in the U.S.) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Treatment for LSD Abuse

If LSD use is causing problems in your life, reach out to a substance abuse professional to get help and gain control back. There are many evidence-based treatment options for LSD abuse, including inpatient and outpatient therapy.

There are no medications to specifically treat LSD abuse. However, doctors may prescribe certain medications to address flashbacks or HPPD symptoms, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Other treatments include psychotherapies such as group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and family therapy.

Addiction experts recommend aftercare as a final step in treatment for LSD abuse. Aftercare can help you prevent relapses and learn coping skills to manage stress.

If LSD addiction is a problem for you or a loved one, Vogue Recovery Center can help. We offer an extensive array of treatments, including residential treatment, detox, and outpatient programs, at our treatment centers in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Give us a call right now to schedule a free, private session with one of our admissions consultants. You deserve to live a life free from addiction.

References

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1011615-overview?form=fpf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8593880/
https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/serotonergic-psychedelic
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/LSD-2020_0.pdf