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L.S.D.
Street Names: acid, strawberries, trips
Chemical Name: Lysergic acid disthylamide
Drug Effect: Hallucinogen
What
is it?
Effects
Risks
Law
First-Aid response
 What
is it?
L.S.D. is a hallucinogenic drug, which comes either in pill form or printed
on a piece of blotting paper. It is sometimes known as trips, taps or
by the designs that appear on the pills or paper, for example strawberries.
It originally became popular during the sixties, and is one sometimes
used within the rave scene.
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Effects
• L.S.D. is a hallucinogenic
drug and therefore changes the way the mind perceives things. The effects
of L.S.D. are felt about half an hour after taking the drug, and peaks
after two -six hours, fading after twelve hours depending upon the amount
consumed. Effects vary depending on user, drug and environment.
• The effects are commonly
known a" trips" and may last for eight to twelve hours.
•
Users may experience "good and bad" trips and sometimes both within
the same trip.
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Risks
• Once the "trip" has
started, it is not possible to stop it or control it. If the user is unstable,
anxious, nervous depressed or have a history of mental problems, users
can experience an unpleasant reaction. They may feel dizzy and disorientated.
•
Prolonged mental ill-health may be triggered off by an L.S.D trip.
A bad trip can make users feel very threatened and shaken for a long time
afterwards.
• Good trips are also
not without risk, with people being injured because of their delusions
(fixed false beliefs which usually cannot be changed by persuasion or
argument) about being able to fly or walk on water. Fatal accidents and
suicides have been causes by L.S.D
•
Psychological dependence can develop and tolerance increases with
repeated usage.
•
Flashbacks are also common with repeated use (person re-experiences
previous trip)
•
This can occur without the individual actually taking L.S.D again
and generally tends to leave the person feeling disorientated anxious
and distressed.
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Law
• Under Schedule 1 of
the Misuse of Drugs Act it is an offence to supply, possess or produce
these drugs.
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First-aid response
• Don't panic
•
Remove user to a quiet non-stimulating environment
•
Reassure them everything is going to be alright
•
Encourage them to breathe slowly and deeply to prevent hyperventilation
•
Remove to hospital if worried or unsure
•
Give full explanation to hospital staff
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