Effects of LSD in America

Introduction

Lysergic acid diethylamide is a type of drug that is commonly known as LSD or acid and it is a form of hallucinogen or psychedelics produced from a type of fungus known as ergot. Ergot is a type of fungus that is majorly found in rye and other grains. Therefore, LSD is a synthetic chemical whose effects may include minimal changes in the emotional feelings or moods and distorts an individual’s psychological perceptions when taken in smaller amounts or the individual may experience hallucinations in case it is taken in larger amounts. In addition, severe psychological reactions that include delusions, paranoia, and extreme anxiety can be experienced. LSD can be identified as a white or clear powder that is odorless in its original form but is mostly presented as gelatin squares that are usually dipped or soaked in LSD. Occasionally, LSD is presented as capsules or in form of a liquid. This drug is usually used by swallowing but at other times it is smoked, sniffed or injected. Apart from acid as viewed earlier, LSD is also known as microdots, trips, Lucy, tabs and dots in the streets. LSD in most cases is used as a recreational drug and is not addictive even after use in long periods as observed by some researchers. It is mainly used for various psychiatric conditions and was initially introduced as a commercial medication by its inventor Albert Hofman (Druginfo.adf.org.au, 2016).

Effects of LSD on Users and the Society

Effects to Users

LSD is categorized as a hallucinogen and hence most of its effects on the society are based on the mental perceptions, delusion, and imaginary of objects and unexpected flashbacks of events that took place way before they took the drugs. In other words, the effects of LSD are mainly on the functioning of the brains which is depicted in the reactions mentioned earlier. The neurotransmitter systems are particularly influenced in a diverse way. The continuous effects of flashbacks are referred to as the ‘Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder - HPPD.’ HPPD may persist for months or years even after an individual decides to seize taking LSD. Patients, who have been identified to have symptoms of HPPD, qualify to be grouped as individuals with pseudo hallucinations. This is because they are able to identify the nature of their mental perceptions and imaginations that are not real contrary to patients with classical psychotic disorders (Hermle, Simon, Ruchsow, & Geppert, 2012).

Despite the fact that most of LSD’s effects are mental, the use of it may cause the sympathetic nervous system of the body to be stimulated leading to poor functioning of the body parts, shaking and unsteadiness. Long-term use or abuse of LSD may lead to ‘immunity’ to it and therefore may result in the body requiring more and larger doses of it other than the usual. Large amounts of LSD are extremely dangerous since the toxin in LSD accumulating in the body is life threatening. The desire to quench the immense thirst for LSD most times compromises the dangers that might arise in form of heart failure or attack, hyperthermia, and chances of fatal injuries that might occur while in the influence of the drug (Kranzler & Ciraulo, 2005). 

According to most of the researches that have been conducted to identify the real effects of LSD in the brain, findings have it that the particular effects have not been identified but as we had viewed earlier, the diverse implications LSD has on the neurotransmitters is due to the fact that LSD affects an individual’s response to serotonin. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for an individual’s psychological functioning that involves their perceptions, thoughts, memory, emotions and moods. Persistent Psychosis is another major long-term effect of LSD. It is characterized by hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms may persist even after longer periods of not using the drug and may adversely affect an individual’s social life exposing them to extreme anxiety, depression, and feelings or thoughts of suicide. Persistent Psychosis does not affect all LSD users but it remains to be a potential risk to most of the users.

Effects to the Society

LSD is available in the streets and hence has become a drug that is accessible without a physician’s recommendation; therefore, it is a drug that many individuals do not use appropriately. Initially, researchers identified LSD not to be addictive, but with more research in the recent years, users of LSD have been observed to be psychologically addicted and the amount of the doses increases with time. Family members to individuals who use LSD may react with disbelief just like any other form of drug and denial that one of the family members is actually abusing a drug. These feelings may be followed with tendencies to withdraw from the LSD users or treating them differently from the rest. 

The continuous use of this drug may lead to the family trying to defend the LSD users from the outside society and in case it is the parents the children try to act or do things that they feel may transform their parents. Persistence to the drug contributes to the family trying to adapt to the situation and keeping their addicted loved ones away from the outside world. The family may end up feeling hopeless and exhausted of the situation and hence may try to find help since they are filled with fear of the unknown for their loved one and the family at large (Hermle, Simon, Ruchsow, & Geppert, 2012). 

Unlike most of other drugs whose initial effects are observed to be physical, the core effects of LSD are psychological and therefore it affects the rational thinking of its users. In such instances, the individuals abusing the drug are prone to avoiding their responsibilities and have a tendency of getting into trouble with systems that include schools, the government, employment and even social relationships. Many communities are affected by the increased cases of crimes which are related to drug abuse. The economy of a nation with individuals under the influence of LSD and other forms of drugs may lose important human capital that is vital in creating wealth and innovating things that will be of gain to the whole economy. The gap between the rich and the poor grows bigger because in most cases, the wealthy are the ones with bigger deals in illicit drug supply and the poor are the ones used to distributing in underground deals. Furthermore, they are the ones involve in high usage of the drugs and therefore they remain in the state of poverty, they are most likely to get caught by the government authorities and waste the rest of their lives in prison. Children too are used in trafficking these drugs most probably because they do to create attention from the government authorities since they are portrayed to be innocent beings making them an easy to being captured or arrested. The usage of children in drug trafficking leads to a hindrance to the development of their future lives since some of them may get caught up with the little money they earn from the deals and hence may drop from school and settle on drug trafficking up to their adulthood. In addition, these children may get involved in early crime cases because they must learn the tricks of survival in the streets. The loss of young beings into drugs and crime denies the community and the country a chance to mold individuals who would later contribute to the growth of the country economically (Lsdabusehelp.com, 2016). 

As for teenagers and young adults the use of LSD, causes them to lose interest in their daily activities that includes school work, their job, their hobbies, socialization and even their duties at home. The deterioration of interest and love of the things that an individual one loved causes ripples between them and the family members, friends and authorities. These individuals may start feeling like they are not love and may become rebellious leading to serious disagreements. Furthermore, purchasing drugs need the availability of finances and since most youths and teenagers are dependent on their parents and guardians, the insufficiency of the finances may result to stealing from home and slowly to the outside world which in many cases never ends up well (Science.jrank.org, 2016).

Possible Strategies to Reduce the Use of LSD and Its Effects in the Society

It may be impossible to completely remove the LSD substances from the market since in many cases such products find their way into the market somehow. Nevertheless, individuals who have been affected by the use of this substance can still find help which may be of great value to the society at large. The government authorities should continue putting measures and penalties for individuals who are involved in buying and selling of these drugs. This way, the market may have minimal dealers leading to a decrease in the merchandise of the drugs within the society. 

As for the individuals who have been involved in the abuse of the drug, medical and psychotherapy treatment are vital in managing their condition and stabilizing them in order to reinitiate their normal self. The psychotherapies in many cases should involve their close relatives and friends who in major cases play a role in supporting them psychologically. Some of the medications that have been used to treat and manage the symptoms of LSD that include HPPD are like, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors – SSRIs which are antidepressants mostly used in individuals with depression. The SSRIs increases the amounts of serotonin in the body since as we observed earlier, LSD causes diverse damages to the brain Serotonin. Other drugs that are used in treating the effects of LSD include Clonazepam for seizures and anxiety, Clonidine, Naltrexone and Atypical antipsychotics. Since the youth are identified to be more experimental with substances like LSD and may be influenced by their peers, it is important for parents and authorities to take responsibility in informing them and educating them on the effects of these drugs both in their bodies and life at large. With open communication, the use of LSD and other drugs may decrease immensely.

Conclusion

LSD is a form of drug that has been on the rise in being abused since it’s available in the streets and its dealers have access to major distributors. It can be consumed orally by swallowing, smoking or through injections. The original form of LSD is either white or clear powder that has no smell. Its effects are specifically psychological and the victims can be observed to be imaginary with unrealistic perceptions or thoughts. Furthermore, the intense effects include persistent perception, or HPPD – Hallucinogen Persistent Perception Disorder which tampers with the way an individual thinks or reacts to the environment psychologically. The effects of LSD are managed differently depending on their degree in particular individuals since they may depict different symptoms. Handling LSD and its effects may include medication, therapy, and counseling. The authorities, on the other hand, should educate individuals especially the youth and teenagers on the effects of LSD and other drugs to their lives and the society.

References

Hermle, L., Simon, M., Ruchsow, M., Geppert, M. (2012). Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder  Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology ,  2 (5), 199-205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2045125312451270

Lsdabusehelp.com (2016). How LSD Addiction Affects Communities | LSD Abuse Help . . Retrieved 9 November 2016, from http://www.lsdabusehelp.com/how-lsd-addiction-affects-communities

LSD - Drug Prevention & Alcohol Facts - Drug Info . (2016).  Druginfo.adf.org.au . Retrieved 9 November 2016, from http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/drug-facts/lsd

Kranzler, H. Ciraulo, D. (2005).  Clinical manual of addiction psychopharmacology Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.

Science.jrank.org .(2016). How Do Hallucinogens Impact Society? - Damaged Lives, Families, Neighborhoods Retrieved 9 November 2016, from http://science.jrank.org/pages/clo339rs2z/How-Do-Hallucinogens-Impact-Society-Damaged-Lives-Families-Neighborhoods.html