Comes from ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains
One of the most potent of all drugs because it is active in extremely small amounts
Odorless, colorless and tasteless
Sold as tablets, capsules, gelatin, or on blotter paper
Clear Liquid
Placed in or on another substance and allowed to dry
Substances include:
sugar cubes
postage stamps
“microdots” – tiny balls of compacted powder
“windowpane” – small squares of gelatin sheets or blotter paper
Who Uses LSD?
High school students
College Students
Individuals usually ages 12 and older
Routes of Administration
“Candy Flipping”, “Trolling”, or “Flipping” - Combining LSD with Ecstasy
Licking soaked blotted paper or gelatin sheets
Swallowing
Side Effects & Adverse Reactions
Effects are felt in 30 to 40 minutes
Dilated pupils
Higher body temperature
Increased heart and blood pressure
Sweating
Loss of appetite
Sleeplessness
Dry mouth
Tremors
Nausea
Fatigue the next day
Psychic effects occur within an hour after ingestion of LSD:
Distortion in sensory perception
Color and texture of objects become more vivid
Perception is heightened
Body’s senses are all affected
Vision is impaired
Driving is dangerous
User distrusts the sense and can cause injury or death
Loss of body image
Loss of a sense of reality
Distorted sense of time
Short attention span
Other effects include:
Hallucinations – the user believes an imaginary vision is real
Pseudo-hallucinations – unreal images that the LSD user knows are unreal
Synesthia – the occurrence of one type of stimulation that triggers the sensation of another stimulation, such as hearing a sound that causes the visualization of a color
User may “see” music or “hear” color
Extreme preoccupation with philosophical ideas
May feel they can “solve the problems of the world”
Emotional changes
Flashbacks – re-experiencing LSD’s effects – can occur without warning for up to a year or longer after use
What is a Bad Trip?
Acute panic reactions
User feels in extreme danger
May last a few minutes or several hours
Confusing and frightening
User experiences:
Confusion
Anxiety
Panic
Suspiciousness
Feeling of helplessness
Loss of control
How to help a friend that is having a bad trip:
Remain calm
Do not leave them alone
Create a calm atmosphere for them
Turn off bright lights
Keep room quiet
Reassure user that the experience is the result of a drug and the feelings will pass
Talk about pleasant memories
Seek medical or professional help
Signs & Symptoms of Use
Dramatic mood swings – going from extreme happiness to deep depression
Laughing at times of sadness
Crying at happy occasions
Extremely dilated pupils
Warm skin
Excessive perspiration and body odor
Distorted sense of sight, hearing and/or touch
Distorted sense of time, self and place
References:
Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association Resource Center, “Just the Facts, What is LSD?” (October 1998)
