LSD Essay, Research Paper

LSD is a hallucinogen. In fact, it is the most potent hallucinogen known to man. LSD is 100 times more potent than psilocybin or psylicin and is 4000 times more potent than mescaline. It was synthesized in 1938 by a chemist who worked in Switzerland. There were no benefits for this drug that were found, so its study was discontinued. Interest in the drug rose when it was thought that it might be a possible treatment for schizophrenia. In the 1960?s-1970?s hippies started to use the drug. It was their psychedelic drug of choice. Hippies could believe that they were flying without leaving the ground. This drug was used a lot until a lot of publicity about “bad trips” came out. A bad trip is a trauma associated with a LSD high.

LSD has remained popular with high school students, college students and young adults. LSD is also important to the fans of rock bands, like the Grateful Dead. LSD comes in the form of tablets, small paper squares, powder, crystal, liquid and capsule. More than 200 types of LSD tablets have been found since 1975. There are more than 80 street names for LSD like acid, blotter, cid, doses and trips. It is a cheap drug (about $2-$5 a dosage). It is popular mainly because it is cheap, easy to get and “expands” the mind.

LSD is a very unpredictable drug. LSD gives the user rapid mood swings. The user gets a feeling that they are in another world. They get a feeling of euphoria. The effects last for up to 12 hours. LSD increases body temperature, increases heart rate and dilates the pupils.