LSD

-- { Acid, Tab, Lucy, Gels } --

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is a synthetic hallucinogenic drug that induces altered states of perception and feelings, causing hallucinations, distorted visual perception of shapes and colors, and altered sounds. The effects are long lasting and can lead to powerful spiritual and psychological experiences.

Introduction Effects Dosage Trip Reports Interactions Reagent Testing Harm Reduction Risks The Law References

What is LSD?

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also widely known as 'acid,' is a potent, semi-synthetic psychedelic substance belonging to a group of drugs known as ergolines. Renowned for its profound impact on consciousness, LSD is typically experienced as intense changes in thought, mood, and perception, with users often reporting shifts in their perception of reality or deep introspective insights, often referred to as 'trips'. LSD is most commonly administered orally, often dropped onto small squares of absorbent blotter paper that are then swallowed or held under the tongue. Despite its notoriety and historical cultural significance, LSD remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, denoting its current classification as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.

How it Works

LSD is known to interact with the brain's serotonergic system, specifically by binding to and activating the 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, which are most densely located in the areas of the brain associated with cognition and perception. This receptor activation is believed to be responsible for LSD's characteristic hallucinogenic effects. Besides its affinity for the 5-HT2A receptor, LSD is also known to bind to other serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic receptors, contributing to its broad and complex range of subjective effects. Although LSD is a potent psychoactive substance, it is non-toxic and not known to cause damage to the brain or other organs.

History

The history of LSD begins in the late 1930s when it was first synthesized by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. Hofmann was working with derivatives of ergot, a fungus that grows on rye, in an attempt to develop a circulatory and respiratory stimulant. However, it was only in 1943, five years after its initial synthesis, that Hofmann accidentally discovered the potent psychedelic properties of LSD. By the mid-20th century, LSD gained popularity in the field of psychiatry, believed to hold promise for treating a variety of psychiatric conditions. However, due to its association with countercultural movements and subsequent recreational misuse in the 1960s, LSD was made illegal in the United States and many other countries. Nonetheless, in recent years, scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like LSD has been revitalized.