L.S.D. Users Experience Flashbacks example essay topic

L.S.D. In the 1938, Dr. Albert Hofmann working in the Swiss Pharmaceutical Company called Sandoz, produced L.S.D. (lysergic acid diethylamide) for the first time. He was hoping that this new drug could be used to stimulate circulation and respiration. However, the tests he conducted were all failures and he forgot about L.S.D. for five years. In April of 1943, Hofmann accidentally ingested or somehow absorbed a bit of L.S.D. and experienced some of the psychedelic effects of this chemical; dizziness, visual distortions and restlessness.

A few days later he prepared 0.25 mg of L.S.D. in water and drank it. And again he experienced the mood and thought altering effects of the drug. (Hofmann, 1979) L.S.D. was experimented in the 1950's by the governments of various countries most notably the British and United States. Experiments often included giving L.S.D. to unsuspecting soldiers, hospital patients and as some people have claimed to members of the public. However, it quickly became clear that L.S.D. was not an entirely suitable drug for treating mental conditions. (Hofmann, 1979) The 60's psychedelic movement started the use of L.S.D. as a recreational drug.

By the mid 70's L.S.D. use declined and it wasn't until the 80's with the sudden arrival of Acid House parties caused L.S.D. to become more popular again. (Hofmann, 1979) Although ecstasy and speed are now more commonly used at raves, parties and clubs, L.S.D. has gained a foothold in youth culture again and is used by a wide range of people. L.S.D. is one of the major drugs making up the hallucinogen class and is one of the most potent mood changing chemicals. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. L.S.D. is commonly referred to as "acid", is sold on the street is tablets, capsules, and occasionally liquid form. It is odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste and is usually taken by mouth. Often L.S.D. is added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and divided into small-decorated squares, with each square representing one dose.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that the strength of L.S.D. samples obtained currently from illicit sources ranges from 20 to 80 micrograms of L.S.D. per dose. This is considerably less than the levels reported during the 1960's and early 1970's when the dosage ranged from 100 to 200 micrograms, or higher, per unit. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2002) The effects of L.S.D. are unpredictable. Because such tiny amounts are needed for a trip, it can be difficult to fully control the amount taken, and therefore, the duration and intensity of the trip. Experiences are hard to describe, partly because they vary, but also because they can differ from the normal way of perceiving things. The effects depend on the amount taken, the user's personality, mood, expectations, and the surroundings in which the drug is used.

Usually, the user feels the first effects of the drug 30 to 90 minutes after taking it. The physical effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2002) Sensations and feeling change much more dramatically than the physical signs. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from on emotion to another. If taken in a large enough dose, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations. The user's sense of time and self-changes.

Sensations may seem to cross over, giving the user the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. (Horowitz, 1969) Users refer to their experience with L.S.D. as a "trip" and to acute adverse reactions as a "bad trip". These experiences are long and typically begin to clear after about 12 hours. Unpleasant reactions (bad trips) may include depression, dizziness, disorientation, fear, paranoia and panic. Also, some L.S.D. users experience severe terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and despair while using L.S.D. Some fatal accidents have occurred during states of L.S.D. intoxication.

(Stanton, 1972) Whether these effects are due to the user being unstable, anxious, depressed or in hostile or unsuitable surrounding is still uncertain. However, a bad trip is not predictable and may happen at any time when L.S.D. is taken, although a bad trip is less likely than a pleasurable experience. (Asher, 1971) Many L.S.D. users experience flashbacks, recurrence of certain aspects of a person's experience, without the user having taken the drug again. A flashback occurs suddenly, often without warning, and may occur within a few days or more than a year after L.S.D. use.

Flashbacks usually occur in people who use hallucinogens chronically or have an underlying personality problem; however, otherwise healthy people who use L.S.D. occasionally may also have flashbacks. Bad trips and flashbacks are only part of the risks of L.S.D. use. L.S.D. users may manifest relatively long-lasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression. It is difficult to determine the extent and mechanism of the L.S.D. involvement in these illnesses. (Stanton, 1972) Most users of L.S.D. voluntarily decrease or stop its use over time. L.S.D. is not considered an addictive drug since it does not produce compulsive drug seeking behavior, as do cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine. However, like many of the addictive drugs, L.S.D. produces tolerance, so some users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher doses to achieve the state of intoxication that they had previously achieved. The exact neural pathways that are affected by L.S.D. are not completely known. L.S.D. has a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter call serotonin.

It is thought that the effects of L.S.D. are caused by stimulation of serotonin receptors on neurons, perhaps in the brain area called the raphe nuclei. However, it is still not clear what produces all the effects of L.S.D. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug. (Hofmann, 1979) L.S.D. In the 1938, Dr. Albert Hofmann working in the Swiss Pharmaceutical Company called Sandoz, produced L.S.D. (lysergic acid diethylamide) for the first time. (Hofmann, 1979).