LSD:A GuidePresented by the Hamre Center for Health and Wellness

Table of Contents:To skip to specific sections, click the links below:

Introduction

Harm Reduction ModelHarm Reduction with LSD

What Is LSD?

How Is LSD Ingested?

How Does LSD Affect the Mind?

What Are the Effects of LSD Use?

“Bad Trips” and Overdose

Are LSD Products Addictive?

How does LSD interact with other substances?

References

Conclusion

IntroductionWelcome to the Hamre Center’s LSD guide! Thank you for wanting to learn more about LSD products and how they can affect you.

This guide is designed to be a science-based resource to help inform people about LSD products. We use a harm-reduction model, which we’ll talk about more in the next slide.

If you have any concerns regarding your own personal health and LSD products, we strongly recommend that you reach out to your health care provider. Although LSD is not legal in the United States, health care providers are confidential resources. Your health is their primary concern.

Harm Reduction Model

● The harm reduction model used in this curriculum is about neither encouraging or discouraging use.

● At its core, harm reduction simply aims to minimize the negative consequences of behaviors. ● Please read through the Hamre Center’s statement on usage and harm reduction below.

“The Hamre Center knows pleasure drives drug use, not the avoidance of harm. We do not condone or promote the use of illegal drugs. We DO promote the use of common sense when going about one’s daily activities. These suggestions represent information that may provide some guidance in reducing the risk of harm only. Note that no amount of planning and care can ensure you will have either a safe or enjoyable experience when you take drugs.”

Harm Reduction and LSD

DO:Know your sources.

What is distributed as LSD may be another psychoactive substances which may be fatal.

Be with others in a safe environment.Effects of LSD are unpredictable, so being with others who can help calm you down or prevent you from harming yourself is always a good idea.

“Start low, go slow.” Use low dosages and don’t rapidly increase your intake during a trip.

DON’T:Use LSD in an unfamiliar or unsafe environment.

Both paranoia or willingness to engage in risky behaviors may cause harm to yourself or others if you become distressed in a space while using LSD.

Mix with other substances.Overloading your brain with mind-altering chemicals can have unpredictable and/or dangerous effects (Drugpolicy.org, 2020).

What Is LSD?

● LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide, an odorless white powder (Drugs.com, 2020).

● It is a highly potent hallucinogen made from lysergic acid, which is a chemical compound found in ergot fungi that grow on certain grains and seeds.(American Addiction Centers: Sunrise House, 2020).

● During the production of LSD, LSA is chemically reacted to attach with diethylamide, which is a synthetically produced organic amine used in corrosion inhibitors and other commercial products. (Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2005)

How Is LSD Ingested?● Most commonly, LSD is ingested orally in the following

forms:○ Blotter papers (also called “tabs”) or strips of

gelatin (called “window panes”) are soaked in liquid LSD and placed on or under the tongue.

○ Tablets ○ Pure liquid which can be taken on its own or

soaked onto something else like a sugar cube. (Drugs.com, 2020).

● LSD can also be ingested nasally or intravenously.● Dosages are often measured in micrograms due to

the high potency.

How Does LSD Affect the Mind?

● LSD temporarily changes how the brain processes information by causing sensory input to bypass the thalamus (which usually interprets and categorizes sensory info) (American Addiction Centers: Sunrise House, 2020).○ Skipping this step is what causes some of

the “hallmarks” of LSD’s effects; crossover of sensations (i.e. “hearing colors”), for example.

What Are the Effects of LSD Use?● Commonly referred to as “trips” or “tripping,” effects can include -

○ Heightened sensory stimulation○ Pleasure○ An altered sense of reality.

● Trips are often unpredictable, and can vary (between persons and occasion)

● With oral ingestion, effects are felt within 30-45 minutes and peak at 2-4 hours. With nasal or intravenous ingestion, effects are often experienced much more quickly (10 minutes) (Drugs.com, 2020).

● Trips usually last 12 hours or longer.● Tolerance for LSD develops quickly (Addiction Center, 2020).● Chronic or regular users will have to take increasingly higher doses to

experience the same effects as in earlier trips.○ Increasing dosage increases risk of more dramatic side effects,

especially seizures and flashbacks

What Are the Effects of LSD Use?Short-term effects on the mind:● Hallucinations● Euphoria● Distorted sensory perception● Impaired depth perception● Anxiety and/or depression● Panic, paranoia, or psychosis● Disturbing thoughts● Impairment of judgement● Interference with serotonin receptors - this

may be the cause of some of the above experiences (Drugs.com, 2020)

Long-term effects on the mind:● Flashbacks may occur following a trip,

causing user to suddenly return to that experience.

● Flashbacks are most common in chronic users or those who have underlying personality disorders, though it can also be seen in healthy individuals who only use once or occasionally.

● There is also potential for long-term psychotic effects including symptoms of schizophrenia or severe depressive episodes (Drugs.com, 2020).

What Are the Effects of LSD Use?Short-term effects on the body:● Dilated pupils● Rapid heart rate● Increased blood pressure● Nausea or vomiting● Loss of appetite● Difficulty sleeping● Increased blood sugar● Dry mouth● Tremors ● Sweating and/or chills● Facial flushing● Numbness (Drugs.com, 2020; Touchbase

2019)

Long-term effects on the body:● In the days following a trip (also referred to

as “the come down”) users may experience insomnia, fatigue, or aches and pains of the muscle and other bodily tissue (Touchbase, 2019).

“Bad Trips” and Overdose“Bad Trips”● Though LSD is associated with things

like euphoria, creative energy, and altered perceptions, it may also elicit negative emotional reactions. These experiences are commonly referred to as “bad trips” (Advanced Recovery Systems: DrugRehab.com, 2020).

● Characteristics of a bad trip can include:○ Paranoia ○ Anxiety ○ Mood swings○ Depressive episodes

Overdose● There is currently no known lethal dose of

LSD, but there are ways in which it can be associated with fatality (Drugs.com, 2020).○ Often hallucinations or other

alterations of experience can impair judgement and lead people to engage in riskier behaviors, many of which can and may result in serious injury or death.

● Ingesting an excessive amount of LSD (find amount here) can, however, lead to severe and lasting psychosis/psychotic symptoms.

Are LSD Products Addictive?● Though LSD is not considered to be an addictive substance, many people may become

addicted to and/or dependent on the sensations and disinhibitions associated with the experience of tripping Because of the psychoactive nature of LSD, it impacts not only thoughts and behaviors but also emotions, thus creating the potential for a strong psychological hold on a person (Addiction Center, 2020; The Recovery Village, 2020).

● Frequent users may also experience symptoms of withdrawal when ceasing or reducing intake (Skywood Recovery 2020). Some other symptoms of withdrawal may be:○ Mood swings○ Preoccupation with seeking out or taking LSD○ Loss of motivation ○ Difficulty in handling typical pressures or tasks○ Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

Alcohol (Drugs.com, 2020)● Increases likelihood of nausea and vomiting.● Alcohol may dull the effects of LSD which may cause the user to increase intake of

either or both of the substances (or others) increasing the possibility of negative symptoms or other interactions.

Amphetamines ● Use of LSD with amphetamines increases your chances of experiencing a “bad trip”

(Touchbase, 2019).● The stimulating nature of amphetamines also increases the chances of experiencing

a panic or engaging in strange or risky behaviors (Skywood Recovery, 2020).

For more general information on many drug interactions, you can visit https://www.safesubstance.com/ to research specific drug combinations.

LSD Interactions With Other Substances

Antidepressants (Skywood Recovery, 2020)● Combining LSD with antidepressants such as lithium or tricyclics can induce seizures

and may be lethal.● The effects of LSD on serotonin levels in the brain also can prove to be perilous when

interacting with SSRI and MAOI antidepressants.○ These antidepressant medications are designed to increase the serotonin levels in

the brain by preventing its “re-absorption.” LSD also increases the levels of serotonin in the brain.

○ Excess serotonin can have dangerous side effects, specifically including presentation of “serotonin syndrome,” symptoms of which may include shivering, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, fever, and seizures (Mayo Clinic, 2019).

Cocaine (Skywood Recovery, 2020)● Similar to amphetamines, mixing LSD with this powerful stimulant may trigger increase in

hallucinations, paranoia,, delusions or disordered thinking.

LSD Interactions With Other Substances

“How Can We Reduce the Harms Associated with Using LSD?” Drug Policy Alliance, 2020, www.drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/reduce-harms-lsd

“Is It Bad to Mix LSD with Other Drugs?” Skywood Recovery, 2020, https://skywoodrecovery.com/is-it-bad-to-mix-lsd-with-other-drugs/

“LSD Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment.” Addiction Center, 29 Apr. 2020, www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/hallucinogens/lsd-addiction/

“LSD Addiction.” The Recovery Village, 3 Feb. 2020, www.therecoveryvillage.com/lsd-addiction/#gref

References“LSD Effects.” Drug Rehab, 26 Feb. 2020, www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/lsd/effects/

“LSD.” TouchBase, 2019, https://touchbase.org.au/alcohol-and-drugs/lsd

“LSD: Effects, Hazards & Extent of Use.” Drugs.com, 2 May 2020, www.drugs.com/illicit/lsd.html

“Serotonin Syndrome.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 Dec. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/serotonin-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354758

“What Is LSD? Active Ingredients, Hazards & Comedown.” Sunrise House, 13 Jan. 2020, https://sunrisehouse.com/club-drugs/lsd/

ConclusionThank you again for reading through our guide! We hope it was informative and that it’ll be helpful if making decisions about LSD use.

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