LSD Addiction

LSD, short for lysergic acid diethylamide and more commonly referred to as acid, is a hallucinogen and psychedelic drug. Acid was first discovered in 1938 and was manufactured from a fungus that grew on rye as well as other strains of grains. LCD can be bought on the streets as acid. It comes in various forms such as capsules, liquid, and tablets. The drug is odorless and is taken orally, often via a small square paper that has a drop of acid on it and then place on the tongue.

Physical Effects of LSD

  • Dilated pupils
  • Increased body temperature
  • Boosted heart rate
  • High blood pressure
  • No appetite
  • Dry mouth

Once an individual has taken LSD, they will begin to ‘trip’ on it approximately 30 to 60 minutes after it is administered. The high can last anywhere from eight to 10 hours after being taken. LSD can be a very dangerous drug to take, especially when mixed with other drugs as well as with alcohol.

What are Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens are a class of drug that causes illusions and figments of the imagination. LSD is the most potent hallucinogen on the market and can cause a dangerous trip especially in those who are paranoid when taking the drug. The drug causes a huge disconnect between the body and mind, causing a lack of control over one’s own body.

Risks of LCD

There are many factors that contribute to one’s experience when on LSD. The quantity taken, the person’s mood and the individual’s temperament are all factors that can affect a ‘trip’. It can reap one of two types of highs:

  • A psychedelic/positive high
  • A paranoid/uncomfortable high

Colors become very intense when someone is high on LSD and they may not be able to distinguish reality from the effects of the drug. They may see things that aren’t there and they may hear noises that are not present. For individuals who are nervous-natured, extreme paranoia and terror can occur since they cannot distinguish reality from fantasy.

Tripping on Acid

Those who experience a bad trip while on acid will have no choice but to wait the grueling eight to 10 hours until the drug wears off. In select cases, individuals never fully recover from a bad trip, leaving them mentally scarred for life.

An individual who is tripping on acid loses all sense of time and self. They are also unable to tell the appropriate size and shape of an object as they become deformed and misshapen. Users may misinterpret things such as thinking that a bright light is the sun rising and thus go and stand outside staring at it. Those who have taken LSD may experience odd flashbacks even decades after not taking it which is why many jobs will not accept applicants who have taken acid in the past, a pilot for example. LSD can make users partake in dangerous activities which could lead them to do things that they would never otherwise do.

Long Lasting Effects

Acid can cause severe psychosis and long-term depression in some who use it even one single time. This usually occurs in individuals who have had a bad trip on acid.

  • Some other long-term effects of acid are:
  • Reoccurring negative thoughts and flashbacks
  • Perceptual changes for years to come
  • Psychosis
  • Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder

Although LSD isn’t typically thought of as an addictive substance, many people become dependent on the high and feeling they get when they are high.

If you or someone you know is dependent on acid or uses it far too often, WhiteSands Treatment can help. We have top-notch treatment facilities that will help addicts get back to sustained sobriety. Though proven treatment programs, our centers can help addicts successfully overcome addiction. Call us today to learn more.