LSD AND ALCOHOL
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD or Acid) is a hallucinogenic drug which is derived from the Ergot fungus. Acid is listed as a schedule 1 controlled substance by the DEA which means it has no medically accepted uses and has a high potential for abuse. Acid is available on the street in various forms. It comes in a liquid state, which makes it easy to dissolve into other substances such as sugar cubes or papers where the user would just have to place the lsd-soaked item in their mouth and wait for it to kick in.
Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Despite this categorization, it does have stimulating effects. Alcohol’s stimulating effects are why most people drink. For some, drinking helps them ‘loosen up’ or calm down which can be a highly desirable effect. In high quantities, alcohol exhibits stronger depressive effects such as slowed breathing, slowed brain function and impaired decision making.
While a lot of research is still needed on what happens when you mix lsd and alcohol, we can better understand the risks by looking at how the drugs work independently.
WHAT IS LSD AND WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOU?
LSD is an extremely potent hallucinogenic drug. The effects of LSD, commonly referred to as a ‘trip’, vary from person to person but generally, users can expect to experience some of the following:
- Visual effects: vivid colors, distorted shapes, hallucinations
- Psychological effects: mood swings, anxiety, confusion, dreaminess, euphoria, bliss
LSD distorts your perception of reality which is the main reason people use LSD. Some believe that it helps them see the real world around them or see things in a different way. However, some users have experienced a ‘bad trip’ where they would experience very negative and sometimes frightening episodes. LSD is a very individualized experience but it’s possible for anyone to experience a bad trip – even regular users. Bad trips can also lead to Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) where a user never really comes out of a trip. This is not the same thing as having acid flashbacks, rather it is a more persistent disturbance. HPPD causes the user to only experience the visual hallucinations of a previous trip and not the other effects.
HOW LONG DOES LSD LAST?
Typically, you will experience the effects 20 to 90 minutes after ingesting the drug and the trip will likely last no more than 12 hours- however some users have reported trips lasting nearly a day. This also varies depending on your physical composition and dosage taken. LSD molecules bind to serotonin receptors in the brain harder than the serotonin itself. This is what causes the lengthened experience.
HOW LONG DOES LSD STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM?
LSD has a relatively short half-life, which is the amount of time it takes for the drug to reduce to half its ingested concentration in the body. While body composition and usage habits play a role in the duration of effects, you can generally expect LSD to be detectable in
- Urine for up to 8 hours after ingestion
- Blood for up to 6-12 hours after ingestion
- Hair for up to 3 months
The chemicals in LSD may not last very long in the body, but the psychological effects can be long term and can even last years.
IS LSD ADDICTIVE?
There is a lack of definitive research. Some sources cites it as addictive and others do not. However, some users of LSD may develop a psychological dependence. Also, the effect of the drug lasts longer than most others which reduces the need to purchase as frequently and your LSD tolerance develops after the first use which can diminish the effects of the drug during repeated use. t’s possible someone will increase dosage because of this, which increases the potential for risky behavior. That includes increased consumption of other substances that might be addictive.
CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON LSD?
There have been no reports of overdosing on the chemical LSD. However, with higher doses comes stronger trips. At a certain point, LSD can cause you to lose touch with reality and essentially feel as if nothing is real. This can lead to extremely dangerous behavior such as self-harm or suicide. While some deaths occur due to behavioral effects from LSD, the substance itself is not known to cause overdose. Further, with impaired judgment the potential for consumption of other dangerous substances is possible. These substances can cause overdose or might be cut with a more dangerous substance like fentanyl.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX LSD AND ALCOHOL?
As we mentioned, LSD is a highly individualized experience which makes it even more difficult to predict what would happen when throwing alcohol into the mix. Some studies suggest that alcohol will enhance the effects of LSD but there is no definitive evidence to suggest that. Given that LSD can cause you to lose touch with reality which can lead to dangerous behavior, mixing alcohol (another substance which is known for impairing judgement) should be avoided. With increased dosages, the risk of each substance increases substantially.
Alcohol is a CNS depressant and with enough consumption this results in suppressed breathing that is also known as respiratory depression. Someone consuming LSD might likely fail to recognize when they have consumed too much alcohol. They likely will also fail to recognize serious symptoms like respiratory depression. This often leads to the appearance that someone is sleeping. Often it’s then missed that they are possibly falling into a coma, overdosing or potentially dying.
Mixing substances heightens the negative affects. With LSD, it’s possible to eventually experience confusion, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or vomiting among other negative side effects. Alcohol often causes similar effects. Mixing LSD and alcohol might heighten these effects leading to a number of negative health effects or irrational or unsafe behavior.
TREATMENT
LSD does have the potential to be psychologically addictive but recovery is possible with the right help. Alcohol is highly addictive and one of the few substances where withdrawal can be fatal. Even without addiction, abuse of LSD and alcohol is potentially incredibly dangerous. If you or a loved one is struggling with abuse or addiction to LSD or alcohol, please search for a treatment centre near you.
