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LSD

  • LSD
  • Acid
  • Blotters
  • Lucy
  • Tabs

LSD

What is it? A central nervous system disruptor. It is one of the strongest hallucinogens.

Also called… Acid, blotters, Lucy, tabs.

What does it look like? Awhite, crystalline, odorless, water-soluble powder. It is also available as a clear liquid, which is dropped onto blotter paper, gelatin, or sugar cubes.

How is it used? Orally, either as pills, droplets, on blotter paper set on the tongue, or a liquid in which the blotter paper has been dissolved.

When does the buzz start? Around 15 to 45 minutes after taking a dose. The hallucinogenic effect starts 30 to 45 minutes after taking the substance.

How long does the buzz last? The peak of the effect is reached around the 2 to 4 hour mark and the hallucinations usually last 6 to 12 hours.

Someone might choose to use LSD to…

  • feel a sense of well-being and euphoria

  • laugh uncontrollably

  • feel creative

  • distort their perceptions

  • have hallucinations

  • change their thoughts

  • promote introspection or have visions

However, LSD can also...

  • cause bad trips, characterised by dysphoria (a general sense of discomfort), anxiety, fear, a sense of panic or depression

  • cause psychotic episodes, manifested through unusual behaviour, delirium, paranoia and terrifying hallucinations

  • cause difficulties concentrating and remembering

  • create impressions of weightlessness or heaviness

  • give the impression of being disconnected from one’s body and make it difficult to structure thoughts

  • cause major mood swings:

    • from joy to despair

    • from wellness to terror or aggressiveness

    • from calmness to anxiety or depression

  • alter judgment and your perception of depth, speed and time

  • precipitate psychosis in people with a predisposition or vulnerability to the condition

Tolerance to psychedelic substances forms rapidly. After a few days of consecutive use, no dose will produce the same effects as the first time. However, after 3 or 4 days of abstinence, sensitivity to the substance is restored.

LSD does not cause physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms; however, long-term use can induce a loss of motivation and have repercussions on mental and emotional health. It is also possible to re-experience hallucinations (acid flashback) without retaking LSD.

If you use LSD…

  • Know that what is being sold as LSD can contain other toxic substances.

  • Start with a small quantity to assess its strength and potency, as well as avoid bad surprises.

  • Avoid using if you’re not feeling well emotionally, because hallucinogens tend to amplify your present state. Make sure to be in a clear mindset, and in a comfortable and safe space.

  • Have a plan prepared in advance in case you start to feel unwell during your trip.

  • If one of your friends is having a bad trip, you should try to be reassuring and care for them in a calm space with dim lighting. You can remind them that it is a temporary experience, that it will pass, and do breathing exercises.

  • Avoid mixing; combining LSD with other substances can have even more unpredictable effects. Doing so is risky with any other substance, but particularly with other disruptors (e.g., cannabis, ketamine, mushrooms, PCP, etc.)

  • Know that recovery from LSD intoxication is gradual and takes 10 to 12 hours.