LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
Common Street Names
- Acid
- Sugar Cubes
- Blotter
- Window Glass
- Blotter Acid
- Zen
- Dots
- Boomers
- Microdot
- Cubes
- Pane
- Yellow Sunshine
- Paper Acid
LSD is a hallucinogenic drug that come from a fungus that grows on various grains. The effects of LSD are unpredictable. They can vary widely depending on the amount taken, the personality and mood of the user, the situation it is being used in and even the expectations of the individual about the drug. LSD usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes to take effect and can last 6 to12 hours or more. LSD use produces tolerance, often rapidly but not addiction. The problem in that however is that because tolerance builds so quickly, users often take more and more to achieve effects which can easily be dangerous. This tolerance can also produce a tolerance effect for other hallucinogens as well, however it does tend to disappear quickly after non-use.
Users refer to the LSD experience as a “trip”. The trip however, is not always a good one. Users may experience terrifying thoughts and feelings known as a “bad trip”. During a bad trip, users may feel intense anxiety, fears of death or insanity, fear of losing control, or despair. Fatal accidents have been known to occur during LSD use. Even during a good trip, users may experience synesthesia, which is a cross over of sensory information such as hearing colors or seeing sounds which can be very frightening and cause panic.
Risks of LSD Use
Risks
- Bad Trips
- Long-lasting Psychosis
- Flashbacks
In addition to bad trips, many users of LSD may develop HPPD, or Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder. People with HPPD experience sudden, intense flashbacks of the use. Flashbacks can occur after even one use and may occur long after it was used. Even years later, flashbacks may occur or persist. They do tend to be more likely in chronic users however. These sudden flashbacks can be extremely disturbing, causing panic, anxiety, and intense distress.
Another risk of LSD use is long lasting psychosis. Psychotic effects resulting from LSD use can persist long after a trip and can include dramatic mood swings and hallucinations which can last for years.
LSD is a colorless, odorless substance with a slightly bitter taste. It can be manufactured into tablets, capsules, and in a liquid form which is commonly added to absorbent paper squares that are often decorated with bright colors and pictures.
Effects of LSD
- Rapid Intense emotional mood swings
- Dry mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Tremors
- Increased temperature
- Delusions
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Changes in sense of time and self
- Sweating
- Paranoia
- Loss of appetite
- Intensified senses
- Sleeplessness
- Cross-over of senses (seeing sounds, hearing colors)
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