LSD Addiction Help

People who are heavy LSD users or who have a psychological dependence on LSD may need LSD rehabilitation to overcome their drug problem. LSD rehabilitation also may be helpful for those who have suffered psychological problems as a result of LSD use.

Unlike most illegal drugs, LSD is not physically addictive, so users may not need a rehabilitation, or rehab, program to quit using LSD. Drug rehabilitation may be necessary, however, for LSD users who have developed a psychological addiction to LSD, or who have psychological problems related to their LSD use. 

Psychological LSD addiction occurs when an LSD user begins to feel that they need LSD to function normally. Though their body is not dependent on LSD, their mind is. As with any addiction, a psychological addiction to LSD can have a serious negative impact on a person's life, and they will continue seeking and using LSD despite its impact on their relationships, school, job, health, finances, or other aspects of their life. In these cases, the LSD user needs drug rehabilitation.

There are many types of drug rehabilitation that can help LSD users, and they all share the goal of helping the user to stop taking LSD and avoid relapsing into LSD use. To be effective, LSD rehabilitation needs to be ongoing, not just for a few weeks or months, and needs to address the underlying problems that caused to person to use LSD in the first place. Some types of LSD rehabilitation include:

• Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous that offer a structure to help a person regain some control of their lives and a support network to help them stay off drugs
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of therapy commonly used in drug rehabilitation, which helps LSD users understand and avoid situations that lead to drug use
• Family therapy, which helps all the members of an LSD users family deal with the problems LSD use has caused for them and break the patterns that might enable LSD use

There are no medications to help a person in LSD rehabilitation stop using drugs, but medications for other problems such as depression or anxiety may help treat the underlying reasons that the person started using LSD. A doctor or psychiatrist can diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe appropriate medications for LSD users. There is no medical treatment for flashbacks associated with LSD use.

LSD rehabilitation is almost always outpatient, meaning the person goes to individual and/or group therapy sessions during the day but returns home at night to eat and sleep. A person in outpatient LSD rehabilitation can often continue their work and other responsibilities, but it is usually recommended that they change any habits, routines, or relationships that enable drug use. This means that LSD users may need to find new social activities or hobbies to avoid relapsing into drug use.

In some cases a person with a dependence on LSD may require inpatient or residential rehabilitation, where the person stays in a hospital or group home for rehabilitation. This is especially true if their LSD use led to criminal activities, such as assaulting someone while high on LSD or stealing to get money for drugs. Inpatient rehabilitation may also be necessary if an LSD user has severe mental problems related to their drug use. Like outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient and residential rehabilitation programs also focus on addressing the causes of LSD use, but they are more intensive and provide more monitoring and support while preparing to transition the person back into life in mainstream society. The length of these programs vary, and for those with severe mental problems related to LSD use, they may be very long term. Once a person is prepared to leave an inpatient or residential LSD rehabilitation treatment program, they are usually advised to join an outpatient program or a support group to help avoid relapse. 

A person who needs help for an LSD addiction can talk to a doctor or counselor about the best treatment options for them, or find out about community drug rehabilitation programs that may be offered at lower cost for those with a financial need.  

Sources: 

Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, "ABCs of LSD" [online]

Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, Psychiatric Disorders, Drug Use and Dependence, "Hallucinogens" [online]

Office of National Drug Control Policy, Treatment, "Types of Treatment" [online]

National Institute on Drug Abuse, "NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction" [online]