The Mysterious LSD

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Since the 1930’s LSD has been a topic of discussion. LSD is known as one of the most controversial drugs ever created. Everything about the drug is mysterious and does not follow the norm of society. Users of LSD are people from solid middle- and upper-class backgrounds. They have many opportunities to pursue higher education and to have successful careers (Petechuk 9). To most, this statistic would seem unearthly, but LSD is notorious for giving keen insights to life, which is the main interest for consumers. The components of LSD are lysergic acid and diethylamide. LSD is often classified as a synthetic drug because it is produced only in a laboratory (Petechuk 10). Addiction is a recurrence for many drugs with the exception of LSD. “LSD is not considered an addictive drug because it does not produce the same compulsive drug-seeking behavior as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, alcohol, or nicotine” (Everything). In the 1930’s Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland began experimenting with new drugs. Albert Hofmann, a young chemist at Sandoz, was planning to discover a cure for individuals with respiratory and circulatory system issues. Hofmann started experimenting with the lysergic acid that is found in the Clavica pupurea fungus, rye, and other grains. Lysergic acid is used to cure headaches; Hofmann thought that the lysergic acid had potential to cure more than headaches. With the lysergic acid, he thought that diethylamide might be a possible match for a drug that could cure. Diethylamide is an amide that has the ability to bond with many proteins in the body. The brain is especially responsive to the diethylamide (Petechuk 12). In 1938 Hofmann synthesized lysergic acid with diethylamide. He then named the compou... ... middle of paper ... ...Cited Antonia Zerbisias Toronto, Star. “Tune in: psychedelic drugs are back.” Toronto Star (Canada) n.d.: EBSCO. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. “Everything you need to know about LSD.” Casa Palmera.. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. Goodman, Paula and Gabriel Koz, M.D. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs: Designer Drugs. New York: Chelsea, 1988. Print. Griffiths, Roland R., and Charles S. Grob. “Hallucinogens as Medicine.” Scientific American 303.6 (2010): 76. EBSCO. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. “LSD.” eSSORTMENT. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. Petechuk, David. LSD. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. Print. “Psychedelic Drugs.” ACNP. Ed. Henry David Abraham, Una D. Mccann, and George A. Riccaurte. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. Treleven, Ed. “Man charged in alleged LSD-fueled stabbing.” Wisconsin State Journal, The (Madison, WI) 17 Dec. 2010: EBSCO. Web. 13 Jan. 2011

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