LSD Addiction and Rehabilitation

   Dec. 7, 2014
   24 minute read
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Last Edited: March 17, 2020
Author
Patricia Howard, LMFT, CADC
Clinically Reviewed
Mark Frey, LPCC, LICDC, NCC
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and certified by an addiction professional.

Dangers of LSD Abuse

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, better known as LSD, is a powerful hallucinogenic chemical derived from Ergot. Ergot is a fungus that is found growing on rye grains. When this compound is extracted from the fungus the hallucinogenic properties are intensified and used for recreational purposes.

Like many hallucinogens, LSD causes a person to go on a trip where visual hallucinations distort the real world, colors can be heard, and sound can be tasted. Often, those who use LSD believe they experience a spiritual awakening.

However, bad trips have been known to occur just as often as good ones and the person is put into a constant state of fear as the hallucinations are often frightening and violent toward the individual using. LSD is a very unpredictable drug and a person can experience such an intense trip that they jump off a building because they think they can fly or commit suicide to evade the hallucinations of a bad trip.

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Street Names for LSD

LSD has so many street names, many of which have long gone out of style. With its multi-decade popularity and tendency to promote creativity, the list of alternative names for LSD is certainly colorful. As LSD is soaked into paper, the name often reflects the image on the paper. Some of the more common names are

  • Yellow Sunshine
  • Mellow Yellow
  • Aeon Flux
  • Blotter
  • Dots
  • Paper mushrooms
  • Trips

LSD Effects

LSD is one of the most powerful mood-altering drugs. It one of the more famous hallucinogens, which are drugs that cause changes in perception, feelings, and thoughts. People who take LSD often report visual and auditory hallucinations, changes in sense of self and reality. Its effects are often associated or interpreted as spiritual experience. LSD works by essentially turning on all regions of the brain, whereas usually only a couple might be active at once. With all these regions alert at once, the individual has an experience often perceived as supernatural. Due to LSD’s mood-enhancing and effects on neurochemistry, some people believe that in undetectable doses, the drug can help treat mood disorders that cannot be treated by usual methods.

Warning Signs of LSD Abuse in a Loved One

The effects of LSD may make it one of the more easily noticeable drugs being abused by friend or family member. A person on enough LSD to evoke a psychedelic response will likely not be hard to spot. If the person has enough of a mind to attempt a cover up of the drug use, it could be difficult. Knowing what to look for when you suspect that a loved one is using drugs can be a challenge. Some general things to keep an eye out for are the following:

Your loved one might display childlike amazement at things usually not perceived as fantastic. LSD creates an intense high and lack of appropriate assessment of objects. The person may be moving slowly or quickly and taking at a different pace than normal.

LSD also affects the personality, energy level and emotions of users. The person may stay up all night and sleep through most of the morning. Since the drug causes an endorphin dump, the next day the person may have extreme depression and feel groggy or fatigued.

A bad LSD experience could truly be frightening. If the person is afraid of hallucinations, the response could be to run, hide or fight. If your friend or family member is in such a state, consider getting help immediately as the person is a danger to you and self.

Factual Dangers: LSD

LSD use can lead to some serious problems and health consequences. This mood-altering hallucinogen has great potential to kill. If you suspect a loved one is using LSD, consider staging an intervention immediately. LSD use signifies a serious problem that needs to be addressed for your friend or family member to live a happy, healthy life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the individual. Getting treatment is the difference between life and death for most LSD users.

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