LSD (acid)

The effects, the risks, the law.

AKA:

Acid, sugar, trips, tabs, sid, Bart Simpsons, blotter, micro dots, liquid, Lucy, stars, lightening flash, paper mushrooms, rainbows, flash and hawk.

Background:

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic drug that is usually sold on tiny squares of paper, often with a picture on one side. The picture says nothing about the likely effect or strength of the drug. Microdots and dots come in the form of very small tablets.

The effects:

• LSD can have a powerful, often unpredictable effect on the mind;
• It can take up to one hour to kick in;
• The effects are commonly known as a 'trip', and may last for eight to 12 hours. Much depends on the strength of the drug, the user's mood, their location and surroundings;
• Users may experience their surroundings in a very different way, including the distortion of objects, movement, vision and hearing;
• Hallucinations are common;
• On rare occasions users experience flashbacks of past 'trips' for a long time afterwards. Users experience different trips every time.

The risks:

• Once the trip starts, there's no way of stopping it until the effects subside;
• Bad trips can be terrifying, and seem very real;
• Dizziness, disorientation, fear, paranoia, and panic may arise;
• The likelihood of a bad trip will increase when users are in a bad mood, anxious, nervous, uncomfortable or have a history of mental problems;
• A bad trip can make users feel very threatened and shaken for a long time afterwards;
• Accidents may happen while users are hallucinating;
• LSD can complicate existing psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

The law:

• LSD and other hallucinogens are Class A drugs.
• It is illegal to reproduce, supply or possess these drugs except under a special office licence.
• It is also an offence to allow premises to be used for production or supply.

If you're planning on taking LSD:

• Hallucinogens can enhance and amplify existing feelings. Even so, being in a good mood does not guarantee a good trip.
• If you're with a friend who's having a bad LSD experience you can help simply being there with them as a steadying influence. Remind them they've used LSD (they might have forgotten), and that they are tripping. Help them to talk if they want to, but don't constantly question them as a bad trip can leave users sensitive to feelings of paranoia. If possible, change your environment to encourage a sense of calm - for example, play some less frantic music or step outside if you're in a crowded club.