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Effects of LSD on the human body
Lsd in the 60s
Effects of LSD on the human body
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Known as the substance that inspired Jim Morrison, Steve Jobs, and the Beatles, LSD is a hallucinogenic drug with mind-blowing effects. LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide, but it has many nicknames such as acid, blotter, doses, or tabs. Many people use acid illegally as a psychedelic drug, but it could act as more than that if used properly. LSD is a misunderstood drug that is desperately in need of more LSD was first synthesized in Bazel, Switzerland, in 1938 by a chemist working for Sandoz Pharmaceutical named Albert Hofmann. However, its effects were not discovered until 1943 when Hofmann accidentally consumed some of the chemical through his fingertips. Hofmann was studying alkaloids of a drug called ergot, which took a significant …show more content…
The trip usually begins with feelings of anxiety, euphoria, dizziness and uncontrollable laughter. The chemical intensifies every feeling and emotion, good or bad. It is very easy to have what is called, a "bad trip", especially if the individual is uncomfortable or anxious. Whether or not the user enjoys the trip usually depends on personality, state of mind prior to the trip, and the surrounding environment while on the drug (Smith). Variation in any of these factors could greatly alter the individuals attitude and cause a bad trip. Even if the user experiences some negative emotions or anxiety this does not mean that the bad trip will last the whole duration of the high. Another symptom people usually experience is pseudo-hallucinations, which is less severe than normal hallucinations because the individual still realizes that what they see is not reality. For instance, if one sees the designs on the floor moving, they still know that this is just an illusion. Another kind of perceptual change that occurs is referred to as a synesthesia, where one type of sensory experience is translated into another (Smith). For example, if the user is listening to music they may claim to feel the vibrations through their body or see the music in an array of
Erika Dyck provides the reader and interesting view of early historical psychological research on LSD, lysergic acid diethyl-amide. This book is composed of Dyck’s scientific interpretation and dissection of earlier psychedelic psychiatry research by Humphry Osmond, and Abraham Hoffer. A Swiss biochemist named Albert Hofmann dissolved a minimal amount of d-lysergic acid diethyl-amide in a glass of water and digested this new synthetic drug in April 1943. Three hours later he begins to feel dizzy and his vision was distorted. Hofmann recollects this as a surreal journey as if what he saw was created by the famous paintings of Salvador Dali unexplained carnivalesque or at some moments even nightmarish hallucinations. The drug began gaining support from pharmaceutical companies as something that can possibly be beneficial for future scientific study. Saskatchewan soon became one of the epicenters harvesting break through biochemical innovation and experimentation with LSD from the 1950s to 1960s.
The CIA’s clandestine operation known as Project MKUltra, inadvertently transformed the use of LSD from being a highly classified method of mind control into a massively popular drug that, in part, defined the counterculture movement of the 1960’s. While the CIA had no intention to supply the American public with the most potent hallucinogen known at the time, their poorly ran mission to create a foolproof truth-drug created an LSD following and changed it into a prominent entheogen. At that time, issues like the threat of an apocalyptic war with the USSR to the horrifying reports from the Vietnam War to the struggle for civil rights pervaded the minds of many young, disillusioned Americans who then sought an escape from their harsh reality. When they discovered a new and legal (until 1968) psychedelic drug thanks to public advocates like Ken Kesey or Timothy Leary, a massive demand was created, with roughly 2,000,000 individuals admitting to have tried it by the end of 1970. In the early 1950’s, prior to Project MKUltra, the groundwork for underhanded scientific research was laid.
Lee, Martin A. Acid dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond. Grove Press. 1985.
LSD has proved that the mind contains much higher powers and energies, beyond the average 10% of the brain that a typical human uses. These powers and energies, under the right circumstances, can be taken advantage of to benefit humankind spiritually, creatively, therapeutically, and intellectually. LSD has given humans the option to chemically trigger mental energies and powers. Arguments that LSD is potentially a dangerous discovery and mind control should be strictly prohibited by the government hold much validity, although there are benefits and arguments of personal freedom of neurology to consider. Whether LSD reflects negativity as a weapon and mind control drug, or radiates euphoria as a mind-expanding chemical and sacrament, the choice to engage in such an experience should be through personal reasoning.
It has been said that addiction is the plague of the 21st century. In an age of unprecedented life expectancy and medical breakthroughs, people are dying from both disease and overdose that are self inflicted and the cure is currently out of reach. Implementing progressive ideas such as safe injection sites have been a battle, both for caring social workers and front line emergency workers looking to minimize the health risks associated with risk taking behaviors that inevitably occur with intravenous drug use. While the addicted population currently uses considerable government funding by way of shelter services as well as prison and jail time, safe injection sites are a necessary step in the battle against drug abuse as is a major prevention
A very minute does can significantly alter ones perception to the point of hallucination. Hallucination is when a person hears, or sees thing that don’t really exist. LSD is the most potent hallucinate. Approximately 100 times stronger than psilocybin, and 4000 times stronger than mescaline.
In the story “Nightwalk” by Aleem Hossain, the narrator shows several symptoms of drug use throughout the story. Signs are first noticed when the narrator and Anthony are at Kmart, and then at the end when he attempts to harm himself. Based on some of the narrator’s experiences, it appears he takes LSD. LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in the ergot fungus that grows on rye and other grains. In addition, LSD belongs to a group of drugs known as hallucinogens. These hallucinogens cause hallucinations, mood swings, and impact thinking. According to the DEA, “during the first hour after ingestion, users may experience visual changes with extreme changes in mood. While hallucinating, the user may suffer impaired depth and time perception accompanied by distorted perception of the shape and size of objects, movements, colors, sound, touch and the user’s own body image.”
Hofmann, A. (1970, January 1). The Discovery of LSD. The Discovery of LSD. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from http://www.psychedelic-library.org/hofmann.htm
Hallucinogens or psychedelics are mind-altering drugs, which affect the mind’s perceptions, causing bizarre, unpredictable behavior, and severe, sensory disturbances that may place users at risk of serious injuries or death. Hallucinogens powerfully affect the brain, distorting the way our five senses work and changing our perceptions of time and space. People who use these drugs a lot may have a hard time concentrating, communicating, or telling the difference between reality and illusion. Hallucinogens cause people to experience - you guessed it - hallucinations, imagined experiences that seem real. The word "hallucinate" comes from Latin words meaning, "to wander in the mind." Your brain controls all of your perceptions; the way you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
You may ask, what is LSD? LSD is a type of acid or known by its scientific name Lysergic Acid Diethylamide which is a psychedelic. It was discovered by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943. Although researched, scientist could not find a medical use for it.
“… There is a feeling of strange intoxication and shifting consciousness with minor perceptual changes. There may also be strong physical effects, including respiratory pressure, muscle tension (especially face and neck muscles), and queasiness or possible nausea… After this the state of altered consciousness begins to manifest itself…..among the possible occurences are feelings of inner tranquility, oneness with life, heightened awareness, and rapid thought flow…these effects will deepen and become more visual. Colors may become more intense. Halos and auras may appear about things. Objects
A psychedelic drug is one that alters the brains perception and cognition. Drugs of this sort can cause visual hallucinations. People have said it feels as though everything is alive, breathing, dancing. Of course, like any drug, there is the possibility of having a “bad trip.” This is where things seemingly go wrong. The person tripping feels trapped, frightened, and extremely uncomfortable. The
For one thing, when someone decides to take the drug LSD, many different psychological problems can occur. Hallucinations occur once this drug is used. “Hallucinations can o...
One must look beyond the stereotypes that psychedelics have earned in the twentieth century, and also modern science, that presupposes that any thing that cannot be explained within its own contexts either does not exist or is but a fanciful idea. However, the realm of psychedelics is uncharted area, and when dealing with such experimental substances, such as these psychedelic agents, one must proceed with caution, as was mentioned earlier the agents are powerful tools and can be used with skill or reckless abandon, and therefore can yield positive responses or deadly consequences. If used with care psychedelics will allow many psychologists and patients to embark on a perhaps endless journey of self-discovery.
... brain works, and you become very aware of that fact after the first couple hours. It's easy to get tired of it and want reality back, even for just a little while. People can get pretty worked up about just wanting reality back, and I suspect quite a few bad trips have happened that way. Traci didn't get bad, but she was exasperated with not being able to sleep or study or do anything productive. At one point she laid down and tried to sleep for a long time - at least it seemed like a long time to me, it may have just been 15 minutes. I tried to humor her and lay down beside her quietly. When she gave up and got back out of bed she was angry, pissed at the drug for not letting her sleep, pissed at me for giving her the drug, pissed at herself for taking it. We were up until the sunrise, and she made her peace with the LSD before it was over. Even so, she doesn't want to do it again.