LSD Addiction Help

In order to help prevent the use of LSD, you must know the effects of LSD on health, what LSD looks like, warning signs of LSD use, and how you can be a part of LSD prevention. This article will answer many of these questions and more about lysergic acid diethlamide, or LSD.

One of the more potent illegal drugs out there is lysergic acid diethylamide, otherwise known as LSD or acid. This is one of the most powerful hallucinogens out there, and is actually found in ergot, a fungus present on many grains - most notably rye. However, LSD can be manufactured now, and it can be made for increased potency. It is important to have an idea of the issues associated with LSD, and be aware of the hazards associated with LSD use.

Effects of LSD on health

Right now, the average dose of LSD is actually smaller than the levels reported in use during the 1960s and 1970s. However, even though the dosage isn’t as high, the fact is that LSD is still quite powerful, even at 20 to 80 micrograms per unit. LSD, which is also called “acid”, is usually taken by mouth. It is most often put on blotter paper and divided into small squares, representing a dose each. It is also possible to get LSD in liquid, capsule and tablet form. LSD is colorless and odorless, and has a slightly bitter taste. It is possible to mask this taste by mixing the acid with sweets, but many just take LSD straight.

The effects of LSD are quite unpredictable. It depends on the personality of the user, and the expectations. Dosage and surroundings also influence the experience of using acid. The first effects of the drug often take between 30 minutes and 90 minutes to manifest. Physically, LSD creates dilated pupils, increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, tremors, high body temperature, sleeplessness and appetite loss. Hallucinations result, including how the user experiences time, sound and sight. In some cases, acid can cause a “bad trip”, in which hallucinations are scary and cause panic. These bad trip stories are one of the main tools used in helping with LSD prevention.

Other very serious effects of acid use create a great need for more LSD prevention efforts. Long term, LSD can create health problems, including sweating, terrifying flashbacks, tremors and heart problems. Additionally, prolonged LSD use can have an affect on mental health. Hallucinations and flashbacks can result in schizophrenia and severe depression. Additionally, LSD creates a tolerance in users, meaning more of it must be taken in order to get the same effects. This can heighten the dangers associated with the drug, since it takes more LSD in order to get the desired reaction.

LSD Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent LSD use is through education. Many people realize that LSD is a dangerous drug. When they understand how dangerous it can be, it increases the chance that they will not use LSD in the first place. For teenagers, one of the best modes of prevention is parental involvement and disapproval. Studies have shown that teens whose parents are involved in their lives are less likely to succumb to any drug addiction, including LSD. Teenagers who know what their parents expect from them, and whose parents are interested in their lives, are less likely to engage in substance abuse.

If it is too late for LSD prevention to  help, you can catch LSD abuse early by looking for signs that the drug is being used. Look for signs of erratic behavior, dramatic weight loss (due to a lack of appetite) and the presence of blotter paper. Often, the squares used are decorated with colors and shapes that seem harmless and whimsical. Be on the look out for a great deal of discarded blotter paper. If you suspect that someone you care about is using LSD, it is a good idea to get help. There are clinics that can help those with LSD addiction so that they no longer have an addiction to the drug. Unfortunately, even healthy people who have stopped using LSD can still get flashbacks - even years later. There is no way to eradicate these altogether when someone has used LSD.