An Educational Perspective

By the end of this presentation: you will have… (1) Been exposed to general information about LSD. (2) Learned some basic facts about non-prescription LSD users in Indiana. (3) Viewed the potential consequences of LSD use, both short-term and long-term. (4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Stimulating one of the neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin, LSD produces hallucinations dissociating the user from reality. Users often report having the ability to see and hear things without stimulus. “Synesthesia” is another effect, causing the user to hear matter that is only visibly perceptive such as hearing colors or associating odor to audible sounds such as “smelling voices.” Indiana Prevention Resource Center

LSD is odorless, colorless and has a slightly bitter taste. It can be taken orally in powder, capsule, tablet, or sometimes liquid form. Some common street names include: Acid, Yellow sunshine, Boomer, Doses, Dots, Elvis, Loony Toons, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Pane, Superman, Window pane, and Zen

Indiana Prevention Resource Center LSD is often concealed in blotting paper and cut into designer square pieces, the drug is absorbed via the skin or oral tissue. Each square piece represents a single dose which costs $5-7 each.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center In Indiana, LSD is predominately sold and consumed by males between ages However, younger cohorts are experimenting with the drug as access increases. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 percent of Americans aged 12 and older reported using LSD once in their lives.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Although the rate of LSD has declined in the last six years, Indiana still has a Significantly Higher lifetime prevalence rate in comparison to the nation for most grades.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Derived from a chemical lysergic acid, which is obtained from a fungus that grows on rye and grains, LSD is not manufactured locally in Indiana, but is obtained by mail and transportation hubs from the dominate production market in San Francisco.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center LSD use has been associated with certain touring bands and annual college functions. A significant increase in the arrest of middle and high school students selling LSD has been seen in the last five years in Indiana.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Short-term effects of LSD include: Dilated pupils Sweating Nausea Loss of appetite Weakness Body numbness Sleeplessness Dry mouth Tremors Increased heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center The effects of LSD can range from an extremely pleasurable one to an intense ‘bad trip’ that can be a frightening nightmare often requiring hospitalization. These bad trips which are often a result of drug overdose can lead to despair, fear of going insane, and dying.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Chronic use of LSD can lead to severe persistent psychosis which can cause social and occupational incapacitation. “Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder,” also known as flashbacks, is another long-term effect of LSD use. In this disorder, the user suffers from recurrent flashbacks in which he/she re-lives the effects of LSD without actually using it. Research suggests that long-term use of LSD can cause organic brain damage with reduced mental acuity, impaired judgment and confusion. In this disorder, the user suffers from recurrent reduced mental acuity, impaired judgment and confusion.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center - The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. - The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. - There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision. LSD is a Schedule I drug, suggesting:

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute The National Institute on Drug Abuse Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center. Contact us Indiana Prevention Resource Center 2735 East 10th Street, CA110 Bloomington, IN Phone: or Fax: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center