LSD is known for its profound changes in consciousness and perception.LSD does have long-term psychiatric effects on some abusers, who may continue to experience hallucinations and other visual disturbances long after the last drug use. LSD’s effects typically last around 8-10 hours, with peak effects occurring 4-6 hours after ingestion. During a “trip,” users experience a wide variety of effects, most often visual and other sensory distortions, changes to thought processes, intense emotions, and for some people, surprising new insights and life revelations. The long-term effects of LSD use can be particularly detrimental to a user. In fact, rather than the short-term, it’s often the long-term effects of LSD on the brain that make it such a dangerous drug.

The effects of LSD

People who are regular LSD users can start to develop social problems. They may feel like they can’t function in social situations without using LSD, and then they continue to take it to recreate their feelings and emotions they have during a trip. Also, there is a tendency by heavy LSD users to feel that their life isn’t going well if they’re not using the drug.

Common side effects include:

• Sensory enhancement
• Delusions
• Sweating
• Alienation
• Dry mouth
• Visual hallucinations
• Tremors
• Synesthesia ( “hearing” colors, “seeing” sounds)
• Dissociation
• Anxiety
• Impaired depth perception
• Panic attacks
• Flashbacks
• Depression

Tolerance to LSD

Tolerance to LSD develops quickly; if a specific dose is taken every day for 3 consecutive days, no reaction will occur by the third day. Users who abuse the drug regularly must take progressively higher doses to achieve the same state of intoxication that they have previously experienced. This practice is particularly dangerous, as when the dose amount increases, so do the chances of the user experiencing a “bad trip” and negative psychological side effects.

Since LSD affects the serotonin system of the brain, this also leads to problems in emotional functioning and stability over time. Eventually, there is research that shows that a pervasive use of LSD can lead people to experience suicidal tendencies, and they may eventually act on them.