Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD, is one of the most powerful substances in the world. Named LSD-25, as it was the 25th compound deriving from lysergic acid systematically developed by its chemist inventor, was first synthesized in 1938 and discovered to be psychoactive in 1943. It would reach peak popularity as a street drug in the 60’s and by 1968 it became illegal to possess. Hallucinogens produce quite a complex experience that affects the physical sense, the mind, and alter the mood. These experiences, often described as psychedelic, have been experienced as spiritual journeys and used as a form of medical treatment since ancient cultures first discovered their potential. The enormous spiritual and cultural importance has protected the substance Peyote (Mescaline) for exclusively the Native American Church in the USA (Robins, 1996). But no other substance has the same protection though have held heavy cultural and spiritual importance. LSD is one of those substances, it is a semi-synthetic substance, classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and ramifications for possession are similar to those of highly addicting and dangerous substances like Heroin. This classification has drawn controversy, but there are two sides to every tale, this is a substance of remarkable potential for both euphoria and hell. It is safe to say LSD creates unpredictable experiences, and much remains unknown about this heavily criminalized substance. How Did LSD Come to Be? In 1938 amongst a team of scientist working for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Basil, Switzerland was University of Zurich graduate, Dr. Albert Hoffman. Hoffman was working in a chemical research laboratory at a time when pharmaceutical companies were deeply... ... middle of paper ... ...lways chance for danger with any psychoactive substance when judgment is altered, the false sense of reality may lead to misconception and horrible decisions which may be life threatening. This goes for even the healthiest of trippers. There are extreme precautions when deciding one is ready or the right candidate for LSD, and It is strongly advised against for certain individuals. There are also things that we know about the setting and circumstances in the use of LSD that can be strong factors for a bad experience. Those with a personal or family history of mood or anxiety disorders, forms of psychosis, and particularly Schizophrenia are advised against using powerful hallucinogens. Even for someone with mental illness in remission is putting themselves at risk for serious long lasting psychoses such as Schizophrenia or severe depression (Drugs.com, 2013).
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.
Boyer, B., Boyer, R., & Basehart, H. 1973. Hallucinogens and Shamanism M. Hamer, Ed.. England: Oxford University Press.
Lee, Martin A. Acid dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond. Grove Press. 1985.
and similar projects, The Search for the “Manchurian Candidate,” John Marks reports that most of the CIA researchers tried LSD themselves. In fact, an early phase of the experiments was probably the setting for the first acid trip in the United States – experienced by a courageous CIA man no less!
LSD has proved that the mind contains much higher powers and energies, beyond the average10% of the brain that a typical human uses. These powers and energies, under the right circumstances, can be taken advantage of to benefit human kind spiritually, creatively, therapeutically, and intellectually. LSD has given human kind 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 holds 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 is not the states and other bureaucracies’ duties to take control of the human brain and body.
In 1938, Albert Hofmann discovered lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD-25, but did not experience its psychedelic effects until April 16, 1943 after accidentally ingesting it. On April 19th he purposely consumed 250 µg (an extremely small amount) of the substance and tripped the entire journey home on his bicycle. From the forties through the sixties psychiatrists and the government experimented with LSD. While psychiatrists could not find any legitimate medical purposes for the drug, the government determined that it could be used to control large groups of people. In the fifties, the CIA did various tests involving the use of acid to prove this point and the program was soon shut down. In the sixties, the drug became very popular with the help of Timothy Leary and it spread around the United States and the United Kingdom like wildfire. While possession of LSD was outlawed in late 1968, its use remained popular until the decline in the eighties. The drug made a comeback around 1990 through 2000 but declined once again (History of LSD).
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.
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
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 changes our impressions 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."
“Of all the Buddhist groups in America, those focusing on meditation have been most attractive to young people from the drug scene, and it is these groups that have taken the strongest stand against drug use. The psychological literature as well as the literature on Zen abounds in descriptions of the altered states of consciousness experienced under the influence of LSD-25 and other hallucinogenic drugs. Descriptions of these drug-induced states often compare them with the experience of satori or enlightenment which may result from Buddhist meditation. Frequently the opinion is expressed that, under certain circumstances, the LSD experience is a satori experience. ”
In the 1960s, “hippie” culture and the use of hallucinogenic drugs, in particular LSD, became...
Nichols, D. E., & Chemel, B. R. (2011). LSD and the serotonin system's effects on human
using any of these drugs result in having ulcers in the bladder, kidney problems, or poor memory. Of course, they may also cause dissociative behavior. These drugs can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis. Some other effects are having a dry mouth and tremors. A statistic says,“...young individuals are the ones mostly using hallucinogenic drugs” (www.hallucinogens.com). The drug causes depersonalization and synesthesia, compare a sensation with terms of another. “More than 1.1 million people aged 12 or older reported using hallucinogens within the past 12 months” (NIDA). Although, this drug is not highly abused as others like methamphetamine or heroin. A NIDA study in 2015 shows that 2% of 8th graders had used hallucinogens at
Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric. Humans have used drugs of one sort or another for thousands of years. Wine was used at least from the time of the early Egyptians; narcotics from 4000 B.C.; and medicinal use of marijuana has been dated to 2737 BC in China.