LSDLysergic Acid Diethylamide

What is LSD?

• A hallucinogenic manmade drug developed in 1938 by Swedish chemist Albert Hofmann

• Produces delusions and hallucinations that distort the user’s sense of time and identity

• During 1940’s, it was used to treat 40,000 patients with mental illnesses (including schizophrenia)

• “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out” – Timothy Leary

Forms

• Typically sold as liquid in tiny breath freshening bottles

• Blotter paper• Sugar cubes• Gelatin squares• Tablets• Dose: 25 µg

*Only 1% of the absorbed dose makes it to the brain

Street Names

• Acid• Boomers• Yellow sunshine• Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds• Dots• Looney Tunes• Elvis

• Superman• Zen• Pane• Doses• Battery Acid• Back Breaker

Effects

• The effects are unpredictable and depend upon the amount taken, the surroundings in which the drug is used, and the user's personality and mood.

• LSD users may develop long-lasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

• Not considered addictive. However, LSD users may develop tolerance to the drug.

• Believed to work similarly to serotonin neurotransmitters

Subjective Behavioral Effects• Trips last between 8-12 hours, takes about 1 hour for drug effects to be

seen• Primary effects are visual – Kaleidoscopic & geometric patterns• Distortions of reality and time – delusions/hallucinations• Panic attacks, fear, paranoia• Loss of control• Insomnia• Loss of appetite• Synesthesia• Rapid mood shifts• Extremely stimulated imagination• Evokes strong emotional reaction• Repetitive/looping thought patterns• Impulsive, poor judgment

Possible Physical Effects

Worst Case Scenario: A Bad Trip

• LSD users have accidentally killed themselves by walking in front of a car, getting into a car accident while tripping, or falling from windows or buildings (skewed reality)

• Cat on LSD, Ridiculous Effects of LSD

Works Cited

http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs4/4260/index.htm

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/lsd-acid