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LSDLysergic Acid Diethylamide

By: Gabby Peterson and Tristen Coates

C20H25N3O

Structure

LSD, short for lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as acid, is a hallucinogenic drug first synthesized in Basel, Switzerland, on November 16th, 1938, by Albert Hofmann from a fungus, ergot.

The drug was originally used to cure mental illness and prescribed to patients with disorders such as, schizophrenia, depression, and autism. Later research showed the drug didn’t help these mental illnesses and was officially banned in the US during 1967.

The drug is now most commonly used as a party drug, but is not as widely used in the US today as it was in the 90’s.

History

Physical Effects

-Dilated pupils-Increase in body temperature-Sweating-Nausea-Tremors-30 to 90 minutes to notice effects-Takes a couple of weeks to entirely leave your system-Sleeplessness-Dry mouth

Mental Effects-Mood swings-Hallucinations

-Warped perception of object size-“Hearing color, seeing sound” (sensations cross over)-Depression-Anxiety-Flashbacks-Panic attacks

Other Effects

-Similar to serotonin

-Effects the brain’s

serotonin receptors

(interferes with

appetite, sleep, mood)

-Metabolized in the

liver, eventually

excreted in the urine

-Produced in crystalline form, then diluted as liquid for digestion reasons.-Odorless, colorless, bitter taste-Most popular form is blotter paper, thin pieces of paper that are soaked in LSD. Some have colorful designs on them.-Some believe that LSD never fully leaves the body, and is stored in parts of the brain and/or pockets in the spine, doctors have not seen any evidence of this theory.-LSD users build up a tolerance, if used often enough, the user will have to take a larger amount of the drug to feel the original euphoric high.-Some doctors think that LSD simply brings up mental illnesses in some people, and causes flashbacks.-User will feel the high for up to 10 to 12 hours.

Fun Facts

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/lsd/the-harmful-effects-of-lsd.htmlhttp://www.drugs.com/lsd.htmlhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/lsd4.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/lsd.htmhttp://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/LSD_effects_on_body_and_mind_a552.htmlhttp://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/lsd/a-short-history.htmlhttp://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hallucinogenic-effects-of-lsd-discoveredhttp://contentconsumer.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/ten-things-you-should-know-about-lsd/http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/LSD-337406.htmlhttp://www.thesubstance-themovie.com/about/about_page6/http://www.psychedelic-library.org/hofmann.htmhttp://www.hightimes.com/tag/lsdhttp://www.zamnesia.com/legal-highs/1457-liquid-lsd.htmlhttp://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2007/10/09/science-vault-60s-flashback-ls/http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/swiss-scientist-who-brought-the-world-lsd-takes-his-final-trip/2008/04/30/1209234955633.htmlhttp://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/lsd/lsd1_text.htm

References