LSD Addiction, Dependence, and Recovery
All About LSD; The Drug and What it Does to the Human Mind
LSD. This is a drug that has been around for decades that has not reduced in popularity like many other older drugs. LSD is simply stated as a powerful hallucinogenic that takes the user on what is called an “acid trip” where the person’s senses and reality are altered to greater or lesser degrees.
The chemical lysergic acid diethyl-amide, (commonly referred to as LSD or acid), is a semi-synthetic partially man made and partially natural chemical that is initially derived from ergot. Ergot is a grain fungus normally found to grow on the different types of rye grain. LSD was actually originally invented in 1938 as scientists of the time were trying to find various medical uses for ergot. In the year 1947, it was introduced as a psychiatric drug for use in helping psychiatric patients relax. However, the drug had little to no medicinal value, and it actually inhibited the conduction of therapy rather than easing it.
LSD is by far the most powerful hallucinogen in use today, and it is also the most recognized drug in the psychedelic drug family. Its psychological effects are well known as they jumped to popularity in the 1970s. LSD can induce and bring about very powerful altered states of thinking and mental cognations. LSD also contributes to a manifestation called, “Synesthesia”, (the crossover of senses like hearing colors and seeing sounds), as well as visual hallucinations.
LSD produces some of the most phenomenal reactions, and this is usually why individuals seek out this powerful but also dangerous drug. When abusing LSD, the user can believe that he or she is having an intense spiritual experience even though he or she really isn’t. LSD produces a strongly altered sense of time and can tremendously distort reality as well. LSD and acid is primarily used as a recreational drug and sometimes used in psychedelic therapy as well. It can also be used to treat Cluster Headaches. LSD is taken orally always. It comes in a liquid, absorbent paper, tablet, or capsule and is known as acid, dots, blotter, sugar cube, and microdot.
Signs and Symptoms of LSD Abuse; How to Know if a Family Member or Loved One is Using It
Even though the effects of LSD consumption may seem desirable for those who want to explore a fake distorted sense of matter, energy, space, and time, the price one pays for the use of this drug does not warrant such a trip. LSD can be very addictive, creating in those who use it a never ending desire to keep tripping on acid whenever possible to keep exploring the hallucinations.
LSD can also create immensely harmful overdoses. While it is very, very rare for someone to die from an LSD overdose, what does actually happen when one does overdose on LSD can actually be far worse. LSD creates powerful hallucinations and sends the user on a mental and spiritual, “trip”. It follows then that if one takes too much LSD, one will be thrown onto a trip of which there is no real return. LSD overdoses create a manifestation in an individual where he or she never really comes back to reality, having taken so much of the drug that key areas of the brain and mental area are significantly damaged.
Because of this, it is very important to be able to know and recognize the signs and symptoms of LSD abuse when it is occurring. If one has a family member or loved one who is abusing LSD, then this must be found as quickly as possible so corrective actions can be taken.
Listed below are several of the signs, symptoms, manifestations and indicators of LSD abuse:
- Dilated pupils
- Increase or loss of appetite
- Changes in personality
- Increased heart rate
- Distorted perceptions
- Higher body temperature
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Sensations that – over,- giving the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds
- In higher doses, delusions and/or visual hallucinations
- Mental conditions such as schizophrenia or severe depression
- Increased tolerance, requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect
- Negative consequences from continued flashbacks, such as disorientation, anxiety and distress
- Unexpected outbursts of violence
- Severe depression leading to possible suicide
LSD Abuse and Addiction Statistics in the United States; An Unwavering Problems
Many have fallen under the misconception that LSD was a far more popular and interesting drug in earlier decades than it is now. True the drug made a major appearance into American culture in the 1970s, but statistics show us that the drug is still just as popular and just as frequently used, if not more so, than it ever was before. To assist the reader in achieving a grasp on just how serious of an issue LSD abuse is in the United States, some statistics and facts gleaned from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, (NSDUH), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, (NIDA), have been included below:
- In the year 2010, about one in seven, (or thirteen percent), youths between the ages of 12 and 17 indicated that LSD would be effortlessly or very easily available to them if they wanted to obtain it.
- Sadly, the number of past year first time users of LSD for individuals of the age of 12 or older was 377,000 in 2010. This number was quite similar to the number in 2009 (337,000). However, LSD use and abuse is on the rise as these number were much higher than the estimates from 2003 to 2007 (ranging from only 200,000 to 270,000)
- During the year 1993, 13.2 million Americans, 12 years of age and older, reported having used LSD at least once compared to 8.1 million in 1985, an increase of more than sixty percent in just eight years.
Rehabilitation as a Solution for LSD Addiction
Once one becomes fully addicted and mentally dependent upon the effects and hallucinations that are brought about by LSD use, then it becomes quite difficult for such an individual to stop taking the drug. One will continue to justify taking the drug, and will find reasons to make it okay to take the drug over and over again regardless of what it is doing to his or her life in general.
There does exist a method of resolving and eradicating LSD abuse and addiction in any given individual. Once one becomes hooked on LSD, the only sure way to get them to stop taking LSD is through a course in an inpatient, residential, drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. Such programs possess the necessary tools and remedies for successfully vanquishing LSD addiction.