What are the Dangers of LSD Abuse?
For decades now the use of LSD in America has remained a part of the counter culture. Drug and alcohol treatment facilities like Narconon LSD Rehab have been treating the abuse of this substance for just as long. Lysergic acid diethylamide is commonly known as LSD and it is a psychedelic drug which gained notoriety in the 1960’s for its hallucinogenic, psychological and physical effects. Classified in the U.S. as a Schedule 1 drug, LSD is a drug that is primarily abused for psychological effects, which include visual distortions and hallucinations, time disruption, and altered cognitive processes.
In many cases of LSD addiction, addicts regularly abuse the drug for the purpose of experiencing a change in perception. The physical effects of LSD vary widely depending on the amount taken. LSD causes dilated pupils; can raise core temperature and increase heart rate and blood pressure; and can cause profuse sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors. Sensations and feelings are altered much more dramatically than the physical effects in people under the influence of LSD. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another, disorienting the person. In most cases, the drug produces auditory as well as visual hallucinations. The user’s sense of time and self is altered. These changes can become frightening and can cause a manic state. Some LSD users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings of despair, fear of losing control, or fear of insanity and death while using LSD.
LSD is not considered a physically addictive drug since it does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior; so many users of LSD voluntarily decrease or stop its use over time. Conversely, LSD users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher doses to achieve the state of intoxication that they had previously achieved. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug.
Short and Long-Term Side Effects of LSD Abuse
As for long term side effects, LSD users can also experience flashbacks, the latent onset of the drug effects. Flashbacks occur often without warning, with the LSD residue being stored within the body for extended periods of time, the intervals of these flashbacks have been known to occur years after the use has actually stopped. Without proper detoxification, the flashbacks can persist and cause significant problems with social or occupational functioning, a condition known as hallucinogen-induced persisting perceptual disorder (HPPD). Scientific data indicates people who experience pre-existing psychiatric conditions have much higher risk of developing long-term problems related to LSD use, including worsening of the original psychiatric illness, or uncovering of previously undiagnosed psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia. LSD addiction may be accompanied by several withdrawal symptoms and related psychological and physical LSD effects. Some of the related psychological effects and disorders of LSD addiction that may need to be treated include depression, anxiety, decreased memory, mental confusion, and other symptoms. There are emergency circumstances that may need to be immediately treated in LSD users such as psychosis or LSD overdose.
Psychological symptoms may vary between each individual and depend on the level of LSD addiction and other factors. LSD has substantial side effects that may cause unpredictability and compromise the safety of LSD users and others. Treatment for LSD withdrawal involves continual psychotherapy, treatment of psychological disorders with psychiatric medications and counseling, assistance with detoxification from the drug, and long term group and social support to help LSD users stay off of the drug and avoid relapse.
Addiction to LSD and Recovery
Because physical addiction potential with LSD is minimal; the LSD abuse can become psychologically addictive. Due to this specific type of addiction, LSD addicts are best treated in therapeutic drug rehabilitation centers. Narconon drug rehab centers are experienced at treating a wide range of addictions including LSD addiction. Treatment for LSD dependence varies in differing treatment modalities yet usually involves helping a person detach from his or her psychological need of LSD. Since there are potential psychological withdrawal symptoms and other severe LSD effects, an initial detoxification may be required, and in some treatment programs this is a mainstay of the effective treatment plan. It is possible for addicts may overcome their LSD addiction with psychotherapy, group support, medications, and outpatient therapy provided by substance abuse rehab centers, however more treatment centers are opening every year, such as Narconon LSD Rehab, which dedicate the treatment plan to getting the person back to a functional state through thorough detoxification, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and giving the addict hope on reality as it exists, not as they wish it existed.
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