LSD is taking the lead in drug use. Between 2015 and 2018, LSD use increased by 56.4 percent. All demographics increased their use, including adults of 50 years of age or older.
Many people are taking LSD because they think the long-term effects of LSD are limited. But they can be rather substantial.
What are the long-term effects of LSD trips? How can someone experience flashbacks? What is serotonin syndrome, and what are the other physical effects of LSD?
Answer these questions, and you can get the truth about psychedelic use. Here is your quick guide.
LSD Trips
A person may begin feeling the effects of LSD within 20 minutes of taking it. Nearly all trips begin within two hours of consumption.
The psychedelic effect can be overwhelming. A person may see colors or objects that are not there. They may not experience the passage of time like they normally do.
They feel very intense emotions that change very rapidly. Some people do feel euphoria, awe, or are energized while they are high. But many people also report feeling confused, suspicious, or scared.
The set and setting are two major factors that determine LSD effects. LSD and other psychedelics create experiences based on a person’s preexisting emotions (set) and environment (setting). If someone is feeling depressed before they take LSD, their trip will involve depressing imagery.
A person may commit actions while they are high that they would not otherwise commit. Some people run naked, while others jump out of windows. They may go to prison or get hospitalized because of what happened.
Most trips last a few hours. If a user takes multiple doses, their hallucinations can last far longer. Mixing LSD with other drugs can create very long trips.
Even if a person survives their bad trip, they may feel overwhelmed by their experience. Many users withdraw from others or lose sleep over what just happened.
Flashbacks
An individual can stop using and still experience the long-term effects of LSD. They can experience flashbacks, seeing the hallucinations, and feeling the emotions they had while high.
Flashbacks can occur without warning. Someone may be driving to work or talking with someone and then experience one. An individual may see a visual reminiscent of their hallucination and then have a flashback.
Some flashbacks are so powerful that a person loses track of time and place. Others may not be able to prompt them back into the real world. The person having the flashback may perform a harmful action.
Some users of LSD develop a condition called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). A person experiences repeated flashbacks and visual impairment. They may see white dots in their eyes, even after shutting them.
Most people with HPPD feel distressed by their condition. They may be unable to work or interact with their families, especially while driving. Anyone can develop HPPD, and no cures for it are known.
Mental Health Risks
Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions experience worse LSD effects than others. LSD may cause people with a family history of schizophrenia to develop the condition sooner. People with schizophrenia have reported having more vivid hallucinations while high.
The CIA experimented with LSD in the 1960s. They found that it makes people easier to control and more prone to suggestions. A person may be taught ideas that are harmful while they are hallucinating.
Some media outlets have reported that LSD may have therapeutic benefits. But research is still ongoing, and there is little evidence to corroborate these reports.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain, carrying signals from one system to the other. It affects how a person moves, feels and behaves when interacting with others.
LSD interacts with the levels of serotonin in the brain. It can block receptors, sending serotonin to places where it should not go.
Some people combine LSD with other drugs that affect serotonin rates. This includes fentanyl, cocaine, and most prescription drugs. With enough time, this form of drug use can produce serotonin syndrome.
A sick person’s brain contains a high level of serotonin, but they have no receptors to catch the excess. The individual experiences a faster heart rate, and their internal temperature begins to rise. Their fever can exceed 106 degrees, which is enough to cause death.
Many dealers cut their LSD with other drugs. Someone may take LSD alongside fentanyl without noticing it. Serotonin syndrome can occur in just a few hours.
Physical Harm
Many people injure themselves while high. They may fall, or they may smash an object and cut their hand. Others have fallen off of cliffs or jumped off of buildings while high.
Rapidly moving objects can exacerbate hallucinations. If a person is driving while they are hallucinating, they may swerve their vehicle or speed. This can lead to an accident that kills or paralyzes them.
Some users who have experienced extreme trips will harm themselves. They may hear voices telling them to commit suicide, so they slash their wrists. Other people attempt suicide to end their hallucinations. Some of these consequences could be more permanent long-term effects of LSD.
The Long-Term Effects of LSD
The long-term effects of LSD are rather substantial. It is easy to experience a bad trip that lasts for hours. Even if a user stops using for years, they can experience disorienting flashbacks.
LSD can encourage the development of schizophrenia and psychosis. It can interact with other drugs, inducing serotonin syndrome. Many people experience physical injuries while high.
LSD may have some limited therapeutic benefits. But its long-term effects are predominantly negative. Anyone who uses LSD should get off of it. ReAlign Detox helps Orange County residents live drug-free lives. Contact us today.