The high’s from LSD are often known as an acid trip or a psychedelic experience. However, the technical term is called LSD intoxication. During LSD intoxication, the use may experience a range of effects to their sensory organs, including their vision. They may also experience intense emotions such as euphoria and changes in their thought processes.
The ‘high’ feelings from LSD can last for around 8 – 12 hours. One of the effects that the user experiences is a distortion in their perception of time. This can make the effects seem like they’re going on for even longer. Some users even claim that it feels like the high is going to last forever.
There are many side effects of taking LSD. In this article, we will take a look further into why people take LSD, what the side effects are, the dangers of LSD addictions, and the increased or decreased rates of LSD users in modern times.
Why Do People Take Acid?
LSD is commonly used as a recreational or social drug rather than a self-medicating drug. Some people report that these types of hallucinogenic drugs help them gain greater insight into their life, themselves, and the universe. Other users also claim that they gain higher spiritual awareness. However, this can’t be proven.
When it comes to LSD, the effects are usually very unpredictable. People who use LSD over and over thrive on the excitability of not knowing what the trip is going to be like. Others like exploring the unknown.
For people who do not like things that are unpredictable or out of their control, the hallucinogenic effects of LSD are usually very uncomfortable and unsettling. The experience of a trip on acid can be very frightening due to the profound distortions in the person’s thoughts and perceptions.
What Are The Side Effects of Taking Acid?
There are many side effects to using LSD. Most people who take LSD will experience hallucinations and visual distortions as part of their trip and many people will also experience changes in their thought processes.
There are also some other negative side effects when it comes to LSD. These are mostly thought to be a result of the stimulation to the sympathetic nervous system.
Some common examples of these types of side effects include the following:
- Raised blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Excessive sweating
- Some of the more serious side effects that may come with LSD use include the following:
- Dehydration
- Hyperthermia
- Risks to personal safety
There are various medical risks that can come with LSD use. There are two specific medical conditions that have been associated with LSD use. These are hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysis.
Hyperthermia is when a person has a dangerously high body temperature. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where the muscles break down and this can lead to kidney damage.
Acid Use Rates Are At An All-Time Low
LSD was a very popular recreational drug in the past but in modern times, fewer people are turning to this type of drug.
The availability of LSD dipped quite substantially around the millennium and since then, the use of this drug has fallen quickly and remains at an all-time low.
However, in more modern years, the use of LSD has started to gradually grow, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
Although the threat of LSD and its usage remains very low, there are concerns about its growing popularity over recent years.
The Dangers of Acid Addiction
Most users of LSD only take the drug on one occasion as an experimental drug. When used more than once, tolerance to LSD develops very quickly. This means that users may not experience the effects of intoxication if they take the drug on more than one day in a row. Also, a person that has a bad trip while on the drug is less likely to want to take LSD again.
The risks of developing an addiction to hallucinogenic drugs like LSD can be higher for those who begin taking the drug during their adolescent years. There are also some additional long-term effects that can occur in a person after they start using LSD which indicates that hallucinogenic drugs are not safe for use.
Unlike many other recreational drugs, there aren’t any obvious withdrawal effects that come when you stop taking LSD. However, the unpredictability of the drug is usually what puts most people off continuing to use it.
However, LSD can become one of many drugs that regular drug users like to take alongside other intoxicating drugs.
While people aren’t known to become addicted to LSD itself, many people can become addicted to the sounds, sights, and revelations that they experience while they are tripping. People who regularly use LSD can experience tolerance and psychological dependence on the drug. There have been cases of intense, prolonged use of this drug where this extended use has produced a range of negative mental side effects such as psychosis and paranoia.
The risks of overdosing on LSD are low and the risk of a fatal overdose is basically non-existent. However, this doesn’t mean that the drug is safe. The delusional effects that come with taking LSD can lead to the person doing a range of dangerous and illegal actions in some cases.
Treatment For LSD Use
Although LSD is a non-addictive drug, users can suffer with a psychological addiction to the effects of the drug. If you or someone that you love is using LSD regularly, there are many inpatient and outpatient drug treatment centres that can help.
There are several different types of therapy that have been proven to help the effects of psychological addiction to LSD. These therapies can include cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavioural therapy, and lifestyle skills therapy.
Other treatments like relapse prevention and support groups can provide ongoing support that has proven to be effective. If you want to find out more about treatment for LSD-relating addictions, get in touch with us today for everything you need to know.