LSD is a hallucinogenic drug developed in 1938 that distorts the user's sense of time and identity. It was used in the 1940s to treat mental illnesses but causes unpredictable effects like delusions, hallucinations, panic attacks and impaired judgment. LSD is typically sold as liquid on blotter paper, gelatin squares or sugar cubes with a dose of 25 micrograms, though only 1% reaches the brain. Effects can last 8-12 hours and include altered visual perception, emotions and thought patterns.
2. 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
3. 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
4. Street Names
• Acid
• Boomers
• Yellow sunshine
• Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
• Dots
• Looney Tunes
• Elvis
• Superman
• Zen
• Pane
• Doses
• Battery Acid
• Back Breaker
5. 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
6. 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
8. 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
