Is LSD Addictive? Symptoms, Effects, & Treatment

Is LSD Addictive?

LSD is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and drastic behavioral changes. Is LSD addictive? Yes. LSD addiction is real. LSD’s addictive effects can produce an emotionally dependent response. Although LSD’s addictiveness is not physical, but rather psychosocial, LSD can cause several long-term health problems, psychological dependence, or death. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), first synthesized in 1938, is a highly potent hallucinogen.

It is synthetically made from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.  It is so potent its doses tend to be in the microgram (mcg) range.  Its effects, often called a “trip,” can be stimulating, pleasurable, and mind-altering or lead to an unpleasant, sometimes terrifying experience called a “bad trip.”

Who Abuses LSD?

Some people may inhale LSD through the nose (snort) or inject it into a vein (shoot it up). Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the amount of LSD contained in any form consumed. Can you be addicted to LSD? Yes, and adolescents abuse LSD more than any other age demographic, according to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The report found that about 209,000 people aged 18 to 25 were addicted to acid in 2016.  Acid is common at dance clubs, alcohol and LSD mix, music festivals, and underground parties called raves. [1]

Other Hallucinogens include:

Is acid addictive? When you or a loved one is addicted to acid, the most severe effects of addiction to LSD are likely to only happen after large and frequent doses, but they can be life-threatening. Extreme side effects may include hyperthermia, suicidal thoughts, and psychosis.

LSD Addiction & Abuse Statistics

Individuals of all ages use LSD. Data reported in the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicate that an estimated 20.2 million U.S. residents aged 12 and older used LSD at least once in their lifetime. The survey also revealed that many teenagers and young adults use LSD–742,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 4.5 million individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug at least once.

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Four Reasons Why LSD Can Be Less Addictive

• Is LSD physically addictive? The drug’s effects last longer than other drugs, reducing the need to purchase the drug frequently.
• People use LSD infrequently because of its inconsistent effects and the potential for adverse reactions.
• Is LSD highly addictive? Tolerance develops rapidly, making it pointless to use the drug repeatedly.
• The powerful hallucinations produced by LSD cause people to avoid the substance to recover from its effects.

Although acid is not physically addictive, people can become psychologically dependent on the substance.  While individuals may repeatedly use LSD to experience sensory hallucinations, most people wait extended periods before retaking the drug.

Is LSD Addictive? & LSD Addiction Signs

Can you get addicted to LSD? Yes, but LSD use can cause unpredictable effects.  Some people enjoy their high, but others endure terrifying fear and feelings of despair.  The drug alters a person’s mood, personality, and perception of time.  How long do the effects of LSD last? The effects can last up to 12 hours, but LSD stays in your system for about five days.

Long Term Effects of LSD

LSD is a strong drug that may provide vivid sensations, although it is not considered addictive. There is proof that LSD’s profound impact on brain chemistry can have long-lasting consequences. Although they could become less noticeable over time, these long-term effects can last for years.

HPPD, or hallucinogen persistent perception disorder, is one of LSD’s long-term effects. Usually referred to as flashbacks, this occurs when an LSD user unexpectedly recalls the sensations or emotions of a previous trip. This might involve halo-like outlines surrounding lights or visual trails from light sources. [2]

While the long-term effects of LSD might not affect everyone who takes the drug, the consequences are potentially quite severe. Although LSD is not intrinsically addictive, if you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, learn more about treatment programs by connecting with us today at We Level Up.

Short Term Effects of LSD

Extreme mood changes can occur.  The drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations if taken in large enough doses.  Can you overdose on LSD? Yes. Overdose can lead to severe psychosis.  Death is often due to a direct injury while under LSD influence; there is no known lethal dose of LSD.  The physical effects include nausea, loss of appetite, increased blood sugar, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, tremors, and seizures. Other effects of addiction to LSD may include:

The user may experience impaired depth and time perception, with a distorted perception of the size and shape of objects, movements, color, sound, touch, and body image.  In addition, sensations may seem to “cross over,” giving the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds.  These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. 

Some LSD users also experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, and fear of insanity or death.  An experience with LSD is referred to as a “trip.” Acute, disturbing psychological effects are known as a “bad trip.”  These experiences are lengthy, with the effects of higher doses lasting for 6 to 12 hours, and it may take 24 hours to return to a normal state.

LSD Side Effects

Can you be addicted to acid, and what are the effects? LSD can trigger a range of perceptual changes. These often relate to vision, touch, emotions, and thinking.

• Visual effects: These include brightened, vivid colors, blurred vision, distorted shapes and colors of objects and faces, and halos of light.
• Changes related to touch: These include shaking, pressure, and lightheadedness.
• Mood changes: It can lead to a sense of euphoria, bliss, peacefulness, dreaminess, heightened awareness, despair, anxiety, and confusion. There may be rapid mood swings.
• Impact on thinking: It can lead to a distorted perception of time, either fast or slow, accelerated thoughts, unusual insight or terrifying thoughts, and a sense of transcendence.

LSD Overdose Symptoms

• Violent or Hazardous Behavior
• Psychosis
• Seizures

Taking LSD can be dangerous, but combining it with other substances can lead to severe health consequences.  For example, mixing LSD with alcohol can exacerbate hallucinations and cause risky behavior that leads to injury or death.

Managing LSD Abuse & Addiction To LSD

Hallucinations can lead to violent behaviors.  Therefore, when assisting high on LSD, it is best to keep them in a safe environment under direct supervision.  This ensures that they do not harm themselves or others.

A low dose of a short- or intermediate-acting benzodiazepine may control anxiety and increase sedation in LSD users.  However, if they experience depressive symptoms, they may need antidepressant therapy.  Individuals experiencing psychotic episodes may require treatment with antipsychotic medication.

People who are psychologically dependent on acid should seek treatment for addiction to LSD or self-help support.  In addition, groups such as Narcotics Anonymous encourage people to participate in supportive discussions that teach ways to overcome substance abuse.

Health Hazards And Flashbacks With LSD

Under the influence of addiction to LSD, the ability to make sensible judgments and see common dangers is impaired, making the user susceptible to personal injury or death.  After an LSD trip, the user may suffer acute anxiety or depression and may also experience flashbacks (also called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder), which are recurrences of the effects of LSD days or even months after taking the last dose.

• A flashback occurs suddenly, often without warning, in people who chronically use hallucinogens or have an underlying personality problem.
• Healthy people who only use LSD occasionally may also have flashbacks.
• Bad trips and flashbacks are only part of the risks of LSD use. LSD users may also manifest relatively long-lasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

Can you get addicted to acid? LSD produces tolerance, meaning the user needs greater doses of LSD to get the same high.  As a result, some users who take the drug must take progressively higher doses to achieve the state of intoxication they had previously achieved.  This is an unsafe practice, given the unpredictability of the drug.

LSD Addiction Treatment

There is a strong link between mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorder and LSD addiction. Individuals who struggle with mood disorders like anxiety are more susceptible to developing an addiction to drugs, often to self-medicate symptoms of their underlying mental health condition. These co-occurring disorders can make each other worse without proper treatment.

Mixing LSD and alcohol increases the risk of overdose and death. Alcohol consumption further increases the unpredictability of LSD and worsens its adverse effects. The use of alcohol and LSD, or the use of more than one drug, also known as polysubstance use, is common. This includes when two or more are taken together or within a short time period, either intentionally or unintentionally.

To determine the most effective ways to treat LSD withdrawal symptoms, it’s crucial to first get an accurate assessment of all the symptoms. When the symptoms have been evaluated by a mental health professional, it may be determined that another form of mental condition is present and needs a particular type of treatment. Very often, some combination of psychotherapy, medication, and/or lifestyle changes are effective for coping with functional.

Medically-Assisted Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated process of withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug abuse. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient drug rehab helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide the necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy for Depression and Anxiety

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of depression including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves making changes in both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – is a strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution Focused Therapy – is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.