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LSD Addiction
Medicinal and recreational drugs are potent substances that can drastically affect your mental and physical well-being, so it’s of vital importance that you know as much as you can about these substances. LSD has been available on the US drug market for years, and it is one of the most severe compounds on the streets. Proper education is perhaps the most efficient way to combat the prevalence of such illicit substances.
What is LSD?
LSD is a hallucinogenic compound produced from lysergic acid found in the ergot fungus. The compound is synthesized in illegal labs and first takes on a crystalline form before it is converted into a liquid. The liquid is colorless, odorless, and often has a slightly bitter taste. When sold on the street LSD goes by the name ‘acid’ and can be found in solid tablets, gel caps, or absorbed into stamp sized pieces of paper. Occasionally LSD is sold as a liquid, but it’s rare to find it in such a form.
What are the Consequences of LSD Use?
The use of LSD creates vivid hallucinations within the mind of any who imbibe it, and these ‘trips’ as they are called in the drug community can last anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the potency of the substance. Often a user will find themselves in what is known as a ‘bad trip,’ in which case the effects of the drug have spiraled into a horrifying living nightmare. Users will believe they are experiencing terrifying instances of an untrue reality, like bleeding walls, physical bodily distortions, and other disconnections from the real world.
Symptoms of LSD Abuse:
It can be difficult to determine if someone is abusing LSD unless you catch them in the act of experiencing a trip.
Some signs you may watch out for if you suspect someone you know of using LSD are:
- Dry Mouth
- Dilated Pupils
- Visible Dizziness or Nausea
- Sweating
- Increased Depression/Anxiety
- Inability to Perform Tasks
- Claims of Intensified or Blended Sensory Experiences
- Effects of LSD Abuse
LSD can have several adverse effects with continuous use, like paranoia and even flashback scenarios in which the user suddenly begins feeling the effects of LSD without consuming any of the substance. LSD trips have been known to instill a false sense of understanding or insight that users want to replicate after the first use. In general, the drug puts the user into an altered state of consciousness that could lead to fear, panic, injury, and even death.
Withdrawal Symptoms of LSD:
Unlike many other illegal drugs LSD is not considered to be physically addictive, meaning it has no withdrawal symptoms associated with its use. For this reason, withdraw treatments aren’t required, but it should be noted that LSD is considered psychologically addictive, which explains why many users are unable to discontinue using the compound.
