The Drug Known As LSD

12 Pages 2903 Words

The drug known as LSD
Introduction

LSD has always been a center of controversy in American society, often times because people have been miseducated about its affects or exposed to the media bias. Its physiological affects on the brain and body have become more and more apparent in the last few decades when research neuroscience peaked. The psychological affects and discoveries such as the affects on the 5 ht7 receptor have a higher affinity for LSD than on the 5 ht1 receptor (Metcalf). The physiological affects, as discovered by Albert Hoffmann when a small amount of the drug soaked through his fingers during a routine synthesis. He experienced an imaginative dream-like state for duration of about 2-3 hours (Hoffmann). Since then a lot of research has been performed on the effects of LSD.

Acute Effects

LSD is very potent: The effective dose is measured in micrograms (ug) --however, the lethal dose is literally thousands of times that, making the drug essentially nontoxic. There have been only a few cases of possible overdoses where people ingested extremely large amounts of the drug (Allen, Griggs).
LSD can be administered a number of ways, the most common: Orally through paper, sugar cubes, on a piece of gelatin, or by pill; intravenously; or intramuscularly. A standard dose with noticeable hallucinogenic effects is about 100-200 ug. The intensity of the trip is proportional to the size of the dose – it is interesting to note, though, that the duration of the trip seems to stay the same at higher doses (Freedmon, 1984). The initial effects begin 20-40 minutes with a sense of euphoria and dizziness. Hallucinations then begin to occur, with the trip peaking for 4-5 hours after about an hour since the drug is taken. LSD is best described as a drug that strikes down barriers. The person who uses LSD is likely to feel detached from his/her ego, and can cross between states of consciousness. The user’s perc...