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LSD is a powerful synthetic hallucinogen, which is commonly referred to as "acid." There is considerable variance in the strength of LSD that one buys on the street. Confiscated street samples of LSD nationally can range from 10 to 300 micrograms in a single dose. Most commonly the dose ranges from 20 - 80 micrograms and is usually sold in "blotter paper" form. It can be found in "micro dot form" or sold as "window pane". It is an odorless, colorless liquid. Psychological and behavioral effects begin about thirty minutes to an hour after oral ingestion, and generally peak between 2 to 8 hours. There is a gradual return to the pre-drug state within 10 to 12 hours. A person generally feels very tired and needs to sleep after the drug effects wear off. People often describe this as feeling "fried" after using the drug.

Symptoms of LSD use include:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Increased body temperature
  • Increased heart rate
  • Sweating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sleeplessness
  • Restlessness
  • Dry mouth
  • Tremors
  • Dizziness and weakness

Most frequent effects of the drug include:

  • Perceptual changes in vision with gradual changes to visual distortions
  • Intensified hearing
  • Dream like imagery
  • The experience of being able to hear colors and see smells.
  • There tends to be a euphoric state connected it and some agitation.
  • The person may feel a flood of different emotions.
  • Some people will experience panic, terror, a sense of loss of control, fear of insanity, or deep despair when under the drug's influence.

One of the issues that we see on college campuses with LSD and other hallucinogens is that sometimes students will take a hallucinogen during an alcohol blackout. A student who has not used a hallucinogen before, who comes out of an alcohol blackout with hallucinations resulting from the drug that they have taken, has a terrifying experience. LSD and other hallucinogens can also trigger panic experiences, and terror experiences in connection with the perceptual changes. Flashbacks are more common in people who use LSD repeatedly. LSD can trigger psychosis such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

 
 
 

Last Updated 1/25/07