LSD Addiction Help

What are the LSD abuse warning signs? Unless someone is on an acid trip you may not see any physical signs of abuse. Read more to learn about the LSD abuse warning signs if you think your loved one is using LSD.

While LSD is not in very common use amongst the general population, it nevertheless does have some users. Indeed, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) LSD statistics estimate that more than 200,000 new instances of LSD abuse take place each year.

While NIDA estimates that the age group most likely to try LSD is the 18 to 25 year olds, it is especially important to note that LSD use can have a particularly strong effect on teenagers. The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse points out that hallucinogens - which have very unpredictable effects - can be especially damaging to teenagers due to the rapid changes going on during puberty. As such it is important to recognize LSD abuse warning signs.

LSD abuse warning signs
No matter the age, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of LSD abuse. It is important to pay attention to the signs that are there, since physical signs of LSD use may not be terribly pronounced. Indeed, for the most part, it is difficult to tell if someone is using LSD unless he or she is actually on a “trip” at the time. Here are some things that could indicate LSD use:

Dilated pupils. LSD use can cause the middle of the eyes, the pupils, to get larger. They may become very large indeed. Because this lets in more light, LSD use can make someone very sensitive to light.

Rambling speech. LSD abuse can make the user difficult to understand. He or she may ramble in his or her speech, unable to speak in coherent sentences and express ideas in an intelligible way. Sometimes, an LSD user will say things that don’t make sense, or use made-up or nonsense words. Speech that is slurred and difficult to understand may be a LSD abuse warning sign.

Disorientation. Someone using LSD may not be aware of where he or she is. He or she may appear confused and have difficulty identifying features of the environment.

Sweating. LSD users sometimes sweat quite a bit. The changes in the body can lead to heightened metabolic processes in some cases.

Mood swings. LSD can cause users to feel more than one emotion at once, or to feel different emotions in rapid succession. This can lead to rather pronounced mood swings.

Erratic behavior. The fact that LSD can lead to hallucinations means that it is possible that someone abusing the drug may exhibit erratic behavior. He or she may do unpredictable and/or dangerous things. Additionally, since there is no true sense of self, LSD abuse can mean that the person is not fully aware of his or her actions - or their consequences. Erratic behavior can be an LSD abuse warning sign.

Increased anxiety. One of the hallmarks of LSD use is the possibility of a “bad trip.” Even without one of these, it is possible that someone using LSD could show signs of increased anxiety. He or she may show panic responses, or display unreasonable amounts of fear. Paranoia is also possible.

Because most LSD users only use on rare occasions - or even only once - there is usually not a dramatic change in school or work performance over time. Many users stop voluntarily after experimenting once or twice. However, even that once or twice can be dangerous, and it is important to watch for signs that someone could be under the influence of LSD and watch for LSD abuse warning signs.

Watching for LSD paraphernalia

Not only are there physical warning signs of LSD abuse, but there are also things you can watch for in terms of paraphernalia. It is important to be aware of the things that could indicate that LSD has been used. Some specific paraphernalia may be an LSD abuse warning sign.

Blotter paper. One of the delivery methods for LSD is through blotter paper. This can be put on the eye, or the tongue. Watch for small squares or circles of paper. They may not have anything on them if they have been used. Or, they may have pictures on them. In many cases, blotter paper looks similar to postage stamps, and you will find many tiny pictures or colored squares or circles.

Gelatin. If you notice a lot of colored gelatin around, this can be a sign of LSD abuse. The gelatin would be in very small amounts or packages.

Sugar. Sometimes LSD is delivered in sugar cubes. If you notice that there seems to be a great deal of sugar around in odd places, it could be a sign of LSD abuse.

If you suspect regular LSD use, it is important that you try to get help for your loved one. Some people experience very long term psychological effects of LSD - even if they have only used the drug once.