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Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Classification: Psychedelic hallucinogen

Brand Names: Delsyd

Common Names/Nicknames: Acid, blotter, blue heaven, California sunshine, cubes, microdot, trip

Active Compound: Lysergic acid diethylamide/lysergide

Found in: Synthesized LSD

Mode of Consumption: Ingestion, mucosal absorption (oral, ocular)

DEA Scheduling/Legal Status (in US): Schedule I, illegal in all states

Effects:

Hallucinations, euphoria, slowed passage of time, anesthesia, synesthesia, pupil dilation, increased body temperature, increased heart rate, weakness, tremors, nausea, anxiety.

Risks:

Acute: “Bad trip,” tolerance, accidental injury, psychosis, amnesia, homicidal and suicidal attempts, convulsions.

Chronic: Posthallucinogen perceptual disorder (PHPD, aka “flashbacks”). Some evidence for triggering longer-term psychosis.

Dangerous Drug Combinations:

Possibly dangerous combination with antidepressants and other drugs that affect serotonin levels.

Special Considerations:

LSD has relatively low risk of harm and is seen as non-addictive. It was first synthesized at Harvard University in 1938.

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And remember, if somebody may need help, play it safe and call for medical assistance.

“Students may bring an intoxicated or drug-impaired friend to University Health Services or to a hospital, or seek assistance from College residential life staff or HUPD, and by doing this, neither they nor the friend will face disciplinary action from the College for having used or provided alcohol or drugs.”

                                                                                    The Amnesty Policy

                                                                                    Harvard College Student Handbook

 

Sources:

Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy (Third Edition), by Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson. Published 2008 by W. W. Norton & Company.

 

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/

 

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

http://www.justice.gov/dea/

 

Erowid Organization

http://www.erowid.org/

Permanent link to this article: http://www.harvarddapa.org/resources/drug-ipedia/hallucinogens/lsd/