Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team

National Drugs Helpline 0800 77 66 00



LSD

(Acid, Acid Cube, Animal, Backbreakers, Barrels, Battery Acid, Beast, Beavis & Butthead, Big D, Bird Head, Black Star, Black Sunshine, Black Tabs, Blotter, Blotter Acid, Blotter Cube, Blue Acid, Blue Barrels, Blue Chairs, Blue Cheers, Blue Heaven, Blue Microdot, Blue Mist, Blue Moons, Blue Vials, Brown Bombers, Brown Dots, California Sunshine, Cheer, Chocolate Chips, Cid, Coffee, Conductor, Contact Lens, Crackers, Crystal Tea, Cube, Cupcakes, D, Deeda, Domes, Doses, Dots, Flash, Hawk, L, Lightening, Lucy, Micro Dot, Paper Mushrooms, Rainbows, Smilies, Stars, Strawberries, Sugar (cubes), Tab, Tripper, Trips, Window and many other names, some of which describe the pictures on the squares (such as strawberries))

LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is a Class A drug made from ergot, a fungus found growing on grass.

What does it look like?

LSD is a white powder but is usually sold as blotting paper or gelatine squares which have been soaked in a solution of the drug and often have a design or pattern on them. The LSD solution can sometimes be dropped onto sugar cubes.

How is it taken?

The squares are swallowed.

What effects does it have?

When taken:

The effects usually begin after thirty minutes and can last up to twelve hours. It causes hallucinations including intensified colours, changes in sounds and in the sense of time and intense emotional reactions. People who are already anxious or depressed may have unpleasant or frightening experiences (a bad trip). The effects also depend on the strength of the drug taken, which can vary from dose to dose.

Hallucinations and the effects of the drug on people's judgement may cause accidents or make them think they can do impossible things, like flying.

Afterwards:

Withdrawal symptoms may last for several days and you may feel withdrawn or emotional. You may have flashbacks - repeats of the experiences during the trip.

Long term:

LSD is not physically addictive but users may become dependent on the feelings LSD gives them. Life may seem very ordinary and boring without the stimulation form the drug. Flashbacks may occur for several years afterwards, perhaps in a different form from what you experienced on the trip itself. Constant use can lead people to be out of touch with the real world.