LSD/ Acid

WHAT IS LSD?

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogen which is commonly called ‘acid’. LSD can alter your perception of things and effects can include visual and auditory hallucinations. LSD usually comes as tiny squares of paper decorated with pictures and is swallowed or absorbed through the skin. LSD is also sometimes sold as liquid, in a tablet or capsule.

OTHER NAMES:

Acid, window, trips, tripper, tab, stars, smilies, rainbows, paper mushrooms, micro-dot, Lucy, liquid acid, lightning flash, L, hawk, flash, drop, dots, cheer, blotter.

EFFECTS:

• Using LSD might make you feel giggly or excited, lift your mood, enhance your senses (taste, touch, smell).
• Some people can experience overwhelm, nausea, anxiety, light sensitivity, yawning, jaw clenching.
• Trips can be fun or can be frightening, also known as a “bad trip”.
  DURATION
• The onset of effects can start within 20-90 minutes and
• Effects can last from 6 up to 12 hours
• The effects can peak at 3-6 hours.

SOME COMMON HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES

Encourage a young person to: –

• Try to use in a safe and comfortable place with people you trust
• Try to have an experienced user (trip sitter) or sober friend with you, especially if it’s the first time you have used
• Have something to eat about 30 minutes before using and have water and snacks ready if you need.
• Always dose yourself, avoid dosing liquid acid drops directly on your tongue.
• You can cut tabs into smaller pieces – halves or quarters to check how strong it is
• The strength can vary so take a smaller dose first to see what the effects are like, wait 3-6 hours until the peak experience is over before redosing
• NBOMe is a lot stronger, potentially more risky and can be sold as LSD.
• Pure LSD is tasteless and should NOT have a metallic or bitter taste.
• It’s important to use only when you feel physically and emotionally well as it will increase what you are already feeling.
• When you take too much or have a bad trip, LSD can make mental health problems worse.
• If someone is having a bad trip, take them to a quiet, comfortable area, stay with them, and reassure them that the effects will wear off.
• Call emergency services if you or someone else is experiencing adverse effects or are concerned in any way.

This is only a little bit of information check out Harm Reduction Victoria’s fact sheet or this video by GlobalDrugSurvey for heaps more.