LSD Addiction Guide 

The most strictly regulated group of pharmaceuticals, Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, includes LSD. The psychedelic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as “Acid” or LSD, alters perception, sense of time and space, and mood. 

Very little dosages of LSD are effective (around 20 micrograms), and the medication is often consumed after being absorbed on the tongue. It frequently comes orally as pills, droplets, or blotter paper.

Keep reading to find out more about LSD addiction and how it will affect you. 

Understanding LSD Addiction

This drug does not cause chemical changes in the brain responsible for cravings, because of this, LSD usually doesn’t coincide with drug-seeking behavior like other hallucinogens. Nonetheless, individuals might still form harmful habits of obsessive use.

However, addiction to LSD, or what is known as a hallucinogen use disorder, is a real, medically diagnosed condition that can be treated as such. There is also the issue of LSD tolerance when users gradually need higher doses to get the intended results. The likelihood of an overdose and/or continuing harmful physical and mental impacts can rise due to this gradual increase in consumption.

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder

When the symptoms of a terrible trip or feelings of worry and paranoia last for weeks or months, HPPD, also known as chronic psychosis, is considered a diagnosis. Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is a condition that manifests with severe abuse. This condition can happen for years after LSD abuse is discontinued and may be treated with psychiatric medication. 

Long-term LSD abusers or people who consume the drug at extremely high dosages may even experience symptoms that eventually resemble schizophrenia. For those who have a personal or familial history of schizophrenia or another psychosis, LSD can potentially be harmful.

This disorder can also come about from a bad trip. A bad trip is characterized by extreme anxiety, paranoia, and the accompanying physiological symptoms of perspiration, trembling, and accelerated heart rate. You may even experience mood swings, trouble speaking, and memory issues. These trips may trigger anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. When the medicine wears off, the physical symptoms typically disappear, but the psychological side effects sometimes linger.

LSD Abuse Symptoms

During a trip, you will peak at about 4-6 hours after taking the drug, but this could last for up to 10 hours. LSD tolerance develops quickly, so for users who abuse the substance frequently, greater doses are required to produce the same level of intoxication as before. This increases the likelihood of unpleasant reactions to the drug. Some negative things you may experience during this time are the following:

  • Augmentation of the senses
  • Delusions
  • Restlessness 
  • Flashbacks
  • Sweating
  • Wanting to be alone
  • Mouth ache
  • Delusions
  • Synesthesia (such as “seeing” sounds and “hearing” colors)
  • Dissociation
  • Impaired sense of depth
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fear 
  • Tremors

The significant modifications to consciousness and perception that LSD brings about are well-known. Users encounter a wide range of effects while on a “trip,” such as powerful emotions, visual and other sensory distortions, and unexpected psychological breakthroughs or new insights for some people.

LSD Abuse Statistics

Some statistics on the abuse of LSD are listed below:

  • Up to 4.2% of people in Europe between the ages of 15 and 24 have used LSD at least once. In seven nations, more than 1% of those this age had used LSD within the previous year, according to surveys in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, and Poland.
  • From a low of 4.4% in 1985 to 8.4% in 1997, the percentage of seniors reporting LSD usage at least once over the previous year nearly quadrupled. 13.6% of seniors in 1997 reported having tried LSD at least once.
  • According to research published in January 2008, 3.1 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 reported using LSD.
  • Since 1975, almost 17,000 seniors from high schools around the USA have participated in surveys conducted by researchers supported by the National Institute on Drug Addiction. The class of 1986 reported the lowest rate of LSD use between 1975 and 1997, with 7.2% of graduating seniors reporting using the drug at least once in their lifetimes.
  • Between 2002 and 2014, an average of 0.1% of people of all ages were categorized as current psychedelic users each year. In 2014, 0.3% of the 11,643 young adults (12 to 17 years old), 0.3% of the 16,875 adolescents (12 to 17 years old), and 0.1% of the 33,750 adults (26 and older) in the US were thought to be current LSD users.

LSD Withdrawal 

Although difficult to foretell, psychological withdrawal symptoms are unlikely to occur in the majority of LSD users. They may result in these signs and symptoms:

  • General uneasy feeling
  • Depression
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Flashbacks
  • Hypersomnia
  • Insomnia

Get Help Today with Myrtle Beach Recovery 

If you or a loved one are struggling with LSD addiction, let Myrtle Beach Recovery help you with our 12-step immersion program. Our experienced staff will help you work through the steps to help you regain control of your life.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you on your journey to sobriety.

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