LSD25

What is this ?

LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a substance extracted from ergot, a plant that parasitizes cereals.

LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, was synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofmann and Arthur Scholl in Switzerland. The word LSD is an abbreviation of the German Lyserg Säure Diethylamid.

In 1971, LSD was declared a narcotic in the United States. For the general public, its use remains associated with the hippie “counterculture” of the 1960s and 1970s. Currently, it is mostly used in nightlife circles, and is found under slang names such as “trip, acid, bart…”.

Although it is a drug, which can have dangerous effects when consumed, there is no particular dependence (psychological or physical) on this product.

It can be found in different forms: a white, odorless crystallized powder, white crystals soluble in alcohol, soaked on pieces of blotting paper marked with a design, micro-pill dots, or liquid drops.

It is therefore mainly ingested orally, or more rarely intravenously. It acts in 20-60 minutes, lasting 6 to 8 hours.

What do I feel?

At low doses, LSD has minor effects on perception, thoughts, or mood. At higher doses, above 100µg, visual hallucinations and distorted perceptions appear. At the same time, mydriasis (dilated pupils that are not reactive to light), profuse sweating, palpitations, or tremors may occur.

The hallucinatory or “psychedelic” experience (journey or “trip”) consists of mainly visual hallucinations, but of which the subject retains a critical. The feeling of space-time and the body can be strange, in the form of distortions of time, distorted or intensified spatial and bodily perceptions, and can take the form of a sensation of ” seeing music” or ” hearing colors” (phenomenon of synesthesia). This sometimes pleasant experience can be badly experienced and a source of massive anxiety which can be accompanied by a disappearance of the notion of danger.

In this case, during this unpleasant experience, the “bad trip”, the subject may experience a loss of identity, bodily disintegration, terrifying hallucinations, in the context of a quasi-delusional state with a risk of acting out against oneself or others. In the event of consumption, it is better not to be alone to avoid an accident.

“Flashbacks,” or “acid drops,” are hallucinations that recur spontaneously, outside of and at a distance from LSD intake. They are reminiscent of the hallucinatory experience and are not serious.

There is no specific test to perform in cases of poisoning. A medical assessment should be performed to rule out medical causes of mental confusion and visual hallucinations.

What treatments?

In the event of a “bad trip” with severe anxiety attacks, or in the event of unbearable or dangerous delirium (feeling of being able to fly, delusional suicide scenario), you must try to protect the person and call for help (Centre 15).

It may be necessary to temporarily prescribe an anxiolytic drug treatment (against anxiety), and a sedative in case of agitation.

What evolution?

There is no evidence of LSD addiction.

We can observe an entry into chronic psychosis tables which remain very rare, and generally in predisposed subjects.

The main risk occurs during or within a few hours of taking the product and consists of a “bad trip”, described above.

In case of danger, you must be able to keep the subject away from the danger and call for help (Centre 15).

Monitoring in a hospital environment will allow you to overcome the crisis without any particular complications.

Why me?

There are no particular risk factors.

LSD is very rarely used on a daily basis. It is most often consumed occasionally and festively in the ” rave party ” scene, combined with other products such as cocaine, ecstasy, poppers, etc.

In very rare cases, it can sometimes be observed that people already suffering from hallucinations are adept at using this type of hallucinogenic product in order to obtain a feeling of control over their symptoms.

If you consume alcohol, it is important not to be alone to avoid an accident.

How does it work?

LSD is one of the most active substances known.

Its effects begin with doses of 25 µg with a mainly stimulating activity.

The hallucinogenic effect appears between 100 and 300µg.

Only a small portion of the ingested dose reaches the brain.

The substance disappears from the blood very quickly and becomes fixed in the tissues.

It is broken down by the liver and eliminated through the bile in the digestive tract.