Primary Behavior Changes and Cide Effects of LSD Essay -- Chemistry Ch

Primary Behavior Changes and Cide Effects of lysergic acid diethylamide lysergic acid diethylamide (D lysergic acid diethylamide) is a very potent synthetic hallucinogen. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, found in ergot, which is a fungus that grows on grains. In its original form, LSD is a white or clear, odorless, water oil-soluble crystal that can be crushed into a powder and dissolved. LSD goes by the street name acid or blotter and is sold in tablets, capsules and sometimes liquid form. Oftentimes LSD is added to absorbent paper and sold in individual squares or doses which are then dissolved on the tongue.LSD is an extremely potent mood changing chemical. A persons subjective world changes drastically once LSD is taken (Blacker, Jones, Stone, & Pfefferbaum, 1968). Users refer to their witness with LSD as a trip. These experiences generally begin about 30 to 90 minutes after taking the drug, and last from 6 to 12 hours. LSD is sometimes described as a drug th at breaks down barriers, but the results of taking LSD are complex and variable. Every trip is different and users give a wide range of reactions (Terrill, 1964). The first signs of LSD are usually physical, and can include dilated pupils, salivation, sweating and nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, dry mouth, chills, raised body temperature, fast heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. As the trip progresses, ones mood, perceptions and sensations become affected (Palfai & Jankiewicz, 2001).In the first phase of the trip there may be abnormal body sensations, changes in mood, space and time distortions and visual hallucinations (Palfai & Jankiewicz, 2001). Time may seem to stand still, or race forward or backward... ... lasting LSD side effect Letter to the editor. American Journal of Psychiatry, pp. 1233-1234.Blacker, K.H., Jones, R.T., Stone, G.C.,& Pfefferbaum, D. (1968). Chronic users of LSD the acidheads. American Journal of Psychiatry, 125, 341-351.LSD Jus tFacts. (n.d). Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http//www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/jf/drugs/lsd.aspPahnke, W. (1967, March). LSD and religious experience. Paper presented to a public symposium at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.Palfai, T., & Jankiewicz, H. (2001). Drugs and human behavior (2nd ed.). New York McGraw Hill.Terrill, J.(1964). LSD, the consciousness expanding drug. New York David Solomon.Ungerleider, J.T., Fisher, D.D., Fuller, M., & Caldwell, A. (1968). The bad trip. The etiology of the adverse LSD reaction. American Journal of Psychiatry, 124, 1483-1490.