LSD Addiction Treatment

There are many individuals who travel down the path of drug addiction because they were in pain, and it escalated into something that they did not predict. Then there are those who need LSD Addiction treatment. Individuals who love to recreationally consume substances that distort their reality and ability to perceive the world around them love hallucinogens, or psychedelics. LSD is one of the most well known of these substances even though an average of only 0.1% of people in all age groups currently use it.

LSD is considered one of the least toxic recreational drugs; however, there are some short and long-term effects that must be considered for those who wish to continue using it. Everyone’s experience is different and each “trip”, or time they get high, even varies according to mood and environment. While it is not common for a physical dependence to form, people can lose touch with reality and make questionable decisions when they do use it. The professionals at an LSD Addiction treatment program will help anyone who chooses drugs over their responsibilities regain control.

What is LSD?

LSD is a hallucinogen or dissociative drug that can come from plants or be synthetic and is clear or white and odorless. It is also known as acid, blotter acid, dots, tabs, boomers, and mellow yellow. LSD is one of the most powerful chemicals used for altering the mind. It is made from lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus that grows on grains. Hallucinogenic drugs in the same family include mushrooms (psilocybin), peyote (mescaline), and MDMA (molly). Similar dissociative drugs include PCP, Ketamine, DXM, and Salvia.

LSD can result in life-changing experiences, whether they are good or bad. It can be found as pills, liquid, and dried. It can be snorted, injected, inhaled, smoked, or made into tea. However, one of the most common methods of ingestion is absorbing it through the mouth membranes on a thick, drug-soaked piece of paper. It is typically felt within 20 to 90 minutes of consumption and last up to eight to 10 hours.

Is there any medical use for LSD?

Individuals who are interested in microdosing may find that the careful monitoring and controlled use of the right amount of LSD can be beneficial in a variety of circumstances, such as:

• Psychiatric disorders
• Spiritual and personal development
• Enhancing creativity

There was a great deal of research performed in the mid-20th century until LSD was made illegal in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, there are now dozens of studies currently in place that are measuring the effectiveness of using LSD in a variety of health conditions, including:

• Cluster headaches
• Anxiety
• Alcohol and other substance addictions
• Depression

Why is LSD not as addictive as other illicit substances?

LSD does not trigger drug-seeking behaviors, so it is not considered addictive. It also does not cause cravings or withdrawal symptoms. It does, however, produce a physical tolerance where the user needs an increasing amount to experience the same effects. Any increases in dosage can lead to overdose. One of the reasons for a lack of addiction is because the trip can be difficult to process because it lasts so long. People tend to limit their use on their own. Anyone can become mentally addicted to anything.

What are the dangers involved with taking LSD?

LSD may have its benefits, but many illicit drugs started out useful as well.  Everything that has benefits also has drawbacks. LSD can be abused and must be taken in moderation, especially if the user is not aware of how it will affect them or what the source might be. When it starts to ruin your life, it has become a problem. Hallucinogens cause someone to feel, see, and hear things that are not there. The unpredictability of LSD can lead to the risk of a bad trip every time. The effects of LSD besides hallucinations can include:

• A greater personal understanding of the universe
• The feeling that you had a spiritual experience
• Exaggerated feelings and experience in the sensory system
• Distorted sense of time
• A blending of senses, such as “hearing colors”
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Increased pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure, sweating, and body temperature

These experiences may be closer to normal; however, there are dangerous results, such as:

• Panic
• Paranoia with an extreme distrust of others
• Bizarre behavior with poor decision-making skills
• Psychosis and detaching from reality
• Memory loss
• Seizures
• Inability to move

Flashbacks were a reality that was often discussed in the war against drugs in the 1980s and 1990s as a way to deter people from using LSD. They are a part of the long-term effects that can possibly occur for months to years after using it. Flashbacks are common in those who may need dual diagnosis treatment because of their history of mental health issues, but it can happen to anyone. If these do occur, behavioral therapy and an LSD Addiction Treatment program can help assuage the negative side effect, which present themselves as the following:

• Persistent psychosis – continuing mental problems with the inclusion of visual disturbances, paranoia, moods that are out of character, and disorganized thinking.
• HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder) – a recurrence of hallucinations and sensory experiences while the user was high. These flashbacks come on without warning and are sometimes mistakenly thought to be strokes or brain tumors.

How do I prevent harm to myself during an LSD trip?

There is risk of a fatal overdose with LSD, but it can cause a great deal of mental anguish. When used with depressants, like alcohol or benzos, it can cause physical harm and overdose. The biggest threat comes with the dissociation that alters the user’s reality. They may do things that they would not when sober, like jump out of a window or slice their wrists just to see what it feels like. Their distorted reality may diminish their awareness of their behaviors and may become suicidal, homicidal, or engage in self-mutilation. One of the ways that people can use LSD responsibly is to have a trip sitter, which is simply someone who stays sober and makes sure that the user does not causes themselves or anyone else harm. Another way to keep safe is to purchase and test drugs before using them to ensure they are not laced with something more dangerous that will kill them, like fentanyl.

How do I know if I need LSD Addiction Treatment?

Knowing what signs to look for can help someone determine if they or a loved one is addicted psychologically. Commonly recognized behaviors are seen in the majority of substance abuse disorders. Some signs to look for include:

• Cancelling your involvement in activities you once loved so you can use LSD more
• Neglecting finances, relationships, work, and school
• Using LSD more often and in higher doses
• Trying to stop using but not being able to
• Taking dangerous risks while under the influence of LSD
• Recognizing that it’s negatively affecting your life yet continuing to use it
• Focusing mostly on finding, using, and recovering from using it

What types of therapies are effective at treating an LSD addiction?

There is no detox necessary when it comes to stopping the usage of LSD because there are no withdrawal symptoms. Maybe they want to escape past traumas or feelings that they prefer not to face. Therapies are aimed at understanding the underlying behavior and resolving the negative reaction to it.

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
  • This form of psychotherapy is the most common way to treat drug abuse. It teaches the patient coping mechanisms that, when applied, helps them to change their negative thought processes and behaviors to ones that are more productive toward a fulfilling life. The positive results can last for years after treatment with methods of helping people deal with life’s stressors as they arise. It also helps people recognize what triggers them (people, places, and things) and how to resolve those issues and maintain their sobriety.
• MI (Motivational Interviewing)
  • 60% of the people in rehab had no desire to be admitted to the program. They may have been admitted by a loved one in a weak moment of agreement or had an emergency situation, like a hospital visit because of drugs or a court order that required immediate admission. This means that they truly have no desire to stop using drugs. Some may want to quit but do not want to put in the effort or change their way of life. MI is useful in helping people WANT to involve themselves in recovery and take advantage of therapies that will help them live a fulfilling life without drugs.

It started with a fun trip after a friend said how much LSD had changed their perspective on life. It was not only fun but helped to create a deeper connection with your partner. You made plans to trip every weekend but found that it was not lasting as long or giving you the same feeling. You took more next time, and it was too much. You fell into psychotic behavior that lasted for hours, but your friend was responsible enough to come over and make sure you didn’t do anything rash. You vowed that you would never take it again but had another tab the next week. You realized after your second bad trip that you should not continue but you just could not help it. Your curiosity was getting the best of your anxiety. LSD Addiction treatment is there to help people get back on track and find a way to live their life happily without drugs.