LSD - Acid
The lowdown on LSD risks, effects and law.
Street names: Acid, tabs, strawberries, trips
Chemical name: Lysergic acid disthylamide
Drug effect: Hallucinogen
What is it?
L.S.D. is a hallucinogenic drug, which comes either in pill form or printed on a small piece of paper. It is sometimes known as trips, taps or by the designs that appear on the pills or paper, for example strawberries.
Effects- what happens when you take L.S.D. :
• L.S.D. is called trips for a reason. It’s a hallucinogenic drug and changes the way the mind perceives things. You can feel, see or hear things that don’t exist or enter into mental and spiritual journeys or “trips”. Colours, objects and sounds can be intensified and seem unreal. You can also feel that time slows down or find everything hilarious.
• The effects of L.S.D. are felt about half an hour after taking the drug, and peak after 2-6 hours, fading after 12 hours depending upon the amount taken.
• Effects vary depending on user, drug and environment. The effects can be great or you can become seriously paranoid. From having a good trip, everything can easily turn into a nightmare. It depends on the strength of the acid, your mood and who you’re with. You might be frightened, lose control, panic or feel you’re going mad. Even on a good trip you can have accidents.
Risks
• Once the "trip" has started, it is not possible to stop it or control it. If the user is unstable, anxious, nervous, depressed or has a history of mental problems, users can experience an unpleasant reaction. They may feel dizzy and disorientated.
• Prolonged mental ill-health may be triggered off by an L.S.D trip. A bad trip can make users feel very threatened and shaken for a long time afterwards.
• Good trips are also not without risk, with people being injured because of their delusions (fixed false beliefs which usually cannot be changed by persuasion or argument) about being able to fly or walk on water. Fatal accidents and suicides have been caused by L.S.D.
• Psychological dependence can develop and tolerance increases with repeated use.
• After taking acid, some people have flashbacks, where they feel the effects of acid briefly weeks or months afterwards. This can occur without the person actually taking L.S.D. again and generally tends to leave the person feeling disorientated, anxious and distressed.
Law
• Under Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act it is an offence to supply, possess or produce these drugs.
First-aid response
• Don't panic
• Remove user to a quiet non-stimulating environment
• Reassure them everything is going to be alright
• Encourage them to breathe slowly and deeply to prevent hyperventilation
• Remove to hospital if worried or unsure
• Give full explanation to hospital staff
Content thanks to YouthHealthNE authors.
See the help section for supportive information and contacts details of support organisations.
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