Treatment for LSD Abuse

Treatment for LSD abuse is different from drug treatment programs for most other drugs. Because LSD isn't addictive and doesn't have any official withdrawal symptoms, LSD drug treatment is based more on psychological treatment than on physical.

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LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), or acid,  is one of the rare drugs that is not considered addictive. Thus treatment for LSD abuse is unique. Unlike heroin abuse, amphetamine use, alcohol additction and other drugs, there is not a “craving” associated with LSD. It is banned mainly due to its intense and unpredictable effects in users. While under the influence of LSD, many people do dangerous things that could prove harmful to themselves or others. Additionally, LSD alters things in the brain so that psychological effects can remain long after the first effects of a “trip” are over.

How Tolerance Affect Treatment for LSD Abuse

Even though LSD is not considered an “addictive” drug, it is still possible to build a tolerance to it. A tolerance is when it takes more and more of the drug to achieve the same effects. This means that if someone does abuse LSD regularly, eventually it will take higher and higher doses to experience the same level of high as experienced during previous uses.

This tolerance to LSD can be dangerous, since it can result in unsafe levels of LSD in the body. Additionally, the higher the dose of LSD, the more unpredictable the effects will be. Indeed, highly unpredictable effects of LSD are part of what make the drug so dangerous. As tolerance builds up, treatment for lsd abuse is essential.

While there are no officially recognized withdrawal symptoms specific to stopping the use of LSD, there are some physical effects that the drug has on the body:

  • Sweating.
  • Impaired coordination.
  • Nausea.
  • Tremors.

Treatment for  LSD abuse

Because there are no recognized withdrawal symptoms, treatment of LSD abuse is a little different than with some of the other drugs. It is mostly an effort to help on a psychological level.

Behavior modification. This type of treatment for LSD abuse can be done locally, or through therapeutic treatment facilities. LSD abusers learn to find other ways to relax, and they replace the time they spent using LSD with other activities. It requires the person to decide that he or she wants to stop abusing LSD, and recognizing it as a dangerous drug, rather than an escape.

Counseling. In some cases, experimentation or regular use of LSD is a form of self-medication for depression. Or, when a person is no longer using LSD and experiencing a high, depression can be a by-product of LSD abuse. Counseling may be necessary in the treatment of LSD abuse in order to help overcome the depression and learn to deal with life without the aid of LSD.

Psychological treatment. One of the main features of LSD includes the hallucinogenic effects of the drug. Indeed, the hallucinogenic nature of LSD means that it is possible to develop paranoia. Additionally, acid flashbacks can occur even years after just one use. Flashbacks bring the person back to the “trip” he or she was on. In the case of a bad trip, this can result in irrational fears and other problems. It may be necessary to treat an LSD user psychologically in order to help him or her learn to deal with the results of former LSD use.

Because of the long lasting effects of LSD, and because the psychological effects can be so far reaching and damaging, it is important to realize the dangers of using the drug - even once - and get treatment for LSD abuse right away. .

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