Signs of LSD Abuse and Addiction

Initial LSD effects run the gamut from distorted visuals like seeing trails or ghost images that follow moving objects to experiencing frightening hallucinations. Anxiety is one of the signs of LSD abuse, among other LSD abuse symptoms. The severity and duration of LSD side effects depend on several factors. If you abuse LSD, take a trip to Stepping Stone’s LSD addiction treatment center in Jacksonville, FL.

Proponents of LSD use call it a “mind-expanding” drug, but it is also mind-altering. The active ingredient, lysergic acid diethylamide, is a synthetic form of the ergot fungus that grows on rancid grains. It’s completely colorless, odorless, and cheap to manufacture and purchase. Another one of the symptoms of LSD abuse is temporary brain dysfunction caused by disrupting normal serotonin production. One of the key signs of LSD abuse is long-term psychological problems.

What Are The Signs of LSD Abuse?

LSD is usually taken by chewing or swallowing liquid lysergic acid diethylamide that’s been dropped onto tiny squares of paper called blotters, onto sugar cubes or candy, formed into small wafers called microdots or placed in tabs of gelatin called window panes. The practice of microdosing is used in a clinical setting to treat some emotional problems. Microdosing means to use small amounts of the drug under supervision to lower inhibitions and open up a dialogue about past trauma. Initial effects begin within 60 – 90 minutes of ingestion, and they’re characterized by enhanced visuals that include seeing trails, colors, and blurred images.

Colors seem brighter, sounds are amplified, and tactile sensation is accentuated. Someone who’s tripping may also laugh hysterically with little prompting or out of proportion to the circumstances. There may be a sense of unreality, of the mind becoming separate from the body. Any sense of time is lost, and some users even describe experiencing a mystical or religious awakening. Mild doses are described as pleasant, even with the appearance of hallucinations, and there is no risk of addiction associated with use.

However, that doesn’t mean that there is no risk of danger from abusing LSD.

LSD is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that there is no medical use, it has a high potential for abuse, and the safety of using the drug can’t be verified even when it’s done under the guidance of a licensed therapist. One report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that there were 377,000 first-time LSD users between the ages of 12 – and 17, and 12 percent of high school students stated that LSD was “fairly easy” to obtain. Emergency room visits due to LSD-related injuries or other problems number about 5,000 per year. If you’ve been hospitalized for LSD abuse, come to our LSD detox center for help kicking this addiction.

Short-Term Symptoms of LSD Abuse

Short-term LSD abuse symptoms peak about four hours after onset, and then they begin to diminish. Most of the time, the effects of the drug are completely gone within 12 hours but can recur in bursts, known as flashbacks, for up to a week if a high dose is taken.

Signs of LSD abuse include:

• Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
• Elevated blood pressure
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating, chills, and goosebumps
• Stomach cramps and diarrhea
• Flushed appearance in the face
• Dizziness and blurred vision

These symptoms and others usually go away after the drug is out of the system. However, continued or frequent LSD abuse can lead to long-term symptoms of LSD abuse.

Long-Term LSD Abuse Symptoms

The effects of LSD wear off in a relatively short time if use is recreational and infrequent, even if the user experiences a bad trip. The long-term effects of LSD are not so easy to dismiss. Someone who enjoys the LSD experience can become depressed when not under the influence of the drug.

Heavy use can also lead to feelings of anxiety and paranoia that don’t end when the trip is over. Confusion and issues with short-term memory are also possible. Personality changes like abrupt shifts in emotion or aggression may become apparent, and some people report feelings of impending doom or having a fear of dying.